Two Kashmir militants including a key rebel leader were killed by government forces during a 12-hour gun-battle in Srinagar yesterday, authorities said.
Such clashes are a common occurrence in the territory but rare in the capital, and the siege marked the first shootout in the city’s centre for two years.
Explosions and gunshots echoed through the densely populated neighbourhood, with streets largely empty as a result of a coronavirus lockdown that has kept most residents to their homes.
Paramilitary troops and police exchanged fire with militants after cordoning off part of the area.
Five homes were reduced to rubble during the battle and 10 others were severely damaged, residents said.
Junaid Ahmed Sehrai, a commander of the largest Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen and the son of a top separatist leader, was killed in the clash, police said in a statement.
Another Hizbul Mujahideen member was also killed and four police officers were wounded, the statement said.
Sehrai’s journey into Hizbul Mujahideen ranks began in March 2018 days after his father Mohamed Ashraf Sehrai replaced Syed Ali Shah Geelani as chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
Police had specific information about the presence of militants in the Kanemazar area based on a technical input.
A joint operation along with the Central Reserve Police Force paramilitary started at night.
A cordon and search operation (CASO) was initiated at 2am. An hour later the hiding militants lobbed a grenade at approaching security men that triggered the encounter.
Most mobile voice and Internet services were cut across the city as the fighting kicked off and have yet to be restored.
Locals poured onto the streets as news of the killings spread to hurl stones at security forces, who fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to disperse them.
No injuries were reported.
The deaths came two weeks after Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo and a close aide were killed by security forces in the southern Kashmir valley during a two-day gun-battle.
Counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir have been stepped up during the coronavirus lockdown, while rebels have continued to attack government forces.