One of the most wanted terrorists and chief of Kashmir’s version of Al-Qaeda, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Zakir Musa, was, on Thursday evening, killed in an encounter with security forces in the Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
However, the Army and police have not yet officially confirmed his killing.
As a precautionary measure, the authorities have ordered the closure of all schools and colleges across Kashmir on Friday and were also expected to order restrictions.
Internet services have also been suspended.
Unofficial sources claimed that one terrorist has been killed in the ongoing encounter and identified him as Musa.
Musa had joined the terror group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in 2013 and succeeded Burhan Wani after his killing in 2016. However, he quit HM and launched Al-Qaeda’s version in Kashmir.
Massive clashes between stone-pelters and security forces broke out as the gunfight raged between terrorists and security forces in the Dadsara village in Tral area of Pulwama.
Reports said that a joint team of Army’s 42 RR, SOG and CRPF cordoned Dadsara village late Thursday evening. The cordon was laid following inputs about the presence of Musa. However, official confirmation of his presence was awaited.
The joint team reportedly tried to persuade Musa to surrender, but he fired Under Barrel Grenades leading to an encounter.
Security forces were, for past few months, trying to track Musa but he had gone underground with the reports of his presence in Punjab coming in. Meanwhile, security forces also launched a cordon and search operation on the outskirts of Bagh-e-Mehtab in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.