Joint resistance leaders call for shutdown on Saturday

SRINAGAR: Two militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) including top commander Junaid Mattoo was killed in an encounter with forces in Arwani village of Bijbehara in Anantnag district of southern Kashmir.

Mattoo was believed to be active for the past two years and carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head. Reports said that the militants were engaged in a fire-fight with forces for several hours. Official said that the identity of another militant is yet ascertained.  Adding that on specific input about presence of militants in the area, a joint team of Army, J-K police and CRPF cordoned off Arwani village cordoned off the area today morning.

Meanwhile official said that as the cordon was laid some youth assembled near the area and started pelting stones on forces which resulted in clashes. Reports said that a civilian was killed after hit by a bullet him during clashes between protesters and forces in Arwani village.  The deceased civilian was identified as Mohammad Ashraf Khar, a resident of nearby Kharpora village.  Dozens of protesters are reportedly injured in the clashes in the area.

Meanwhile resistance leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik Friday called for a shutdown on Saturday against the civilian killings in Rangreth and Arwani. “Joint resistance leaders have called for a complete shutdown against killings in Rangreth and Arwani,” a spokesperson of Hurriyat (g) said.

Pertinently, Naseer Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Ashtengoo Bandipora and Mohammad Ashraf, resident of Kharepora Arwani in Kulgam district were killed in two separate force’s actions.