In a major success, security forces on Friday eliminated Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi, a commander of the ISJK and a right hand man of top terrorist Zakir Moosa, in a brief encounter in Shopian of South Kashmir.
Sofi alias ‘Abdulla bhai’ was a commander of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), an ISIS-inspired module with Zakir Moosa as its chief. Sofi was believed to be the lone surviving member of the terror outfit in Kashmir.
Police said arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter spot.
Sofi had reportedly joined Harkat-ul Mujahideen (HuM) in 2015, but later joined ISJK in 2016.
According to reports, the security forces began a cordon and search operation in Amshipora village of Shopian district following an information about the presence of militants there.
The hiding militants fired at the security forces, which triggered an encounter in which Sofi was killed.
A partial shutdown was observed in Sopore, which is Sofi’s hometown. All education institutions were shut in the area as a precautionary measure.
Most-wanted Zakir Moosa continues to elude security forces. A few months ago, there were reports that he was spotted in Amritsar, Bathinda and Ferozepur in Punjab.
Meanwhile, incidents of security forces being pelted with stones were reported outside Srinagar’s Jama Masjid after the Friday prayers. Security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the miscreants who clashed with them.