Indian security forces eliminate key terror figure in Kashmir Zakir Musa, politicians praise achievement

According to a Swarajya report, a son of an engineer working for the state government, Musa studied in Navodaya Vidyalaya. After completing 12th, he went to study in an engineering college in Punjab, but was radicalised. He dropped out to join the outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. 

He later left Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and even declared his allegiance with terrorist group al-Qaeda in 2017.

Appreciating the security forces, BJP leader Ram Madhav tweeted: "Zakir Musa is d 18th terrorist eliminated in last 18 days in Kashmir Valley. 89th so far this year. We were busy with d elections in d country. Our proud JK Police n security forces were busy in their duty of cleansing d Valley of terrorists. Salutes to d dedicated band."

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "Zakir Musa, one of India’s most wanted terrorist killed in an encounter with security forces. Huge win for India in its fight against terror."

Body of Musa was handed over to his family members and all roads leading to his native village Noorpora Tral have been sealed to prevent people from adjoining areas to assemble there. Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in Tral and other parts of Pulwama district to prevent demonstrations.

A defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said on Friday that encounter has ended and body of militant Musa besides war-like stores were recovered.

However, a police spokesman urged people not to venture in the encounter area till it is declared safe.

Giving details about the operation, official sources told UNI that on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Dadsar, Tral, in Pulwama at 1700 hrs on Thursday. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular house in the area, the militants hiding there opened fire, they said, adding that fire was returned ensuing in an encounter.

The internet service was suspended in Pulwama to prevent spread of rumours.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, announced closure of all educational institutions after news on social media that Musa was trapped in the house.

Sources said the house from where Musa was firing was blasted by the security forces and firing stopped late last night. However, when the security forces launched searches in the damaged house, Musa suddenly appeared and started firing, sources said, adding that in the return fire, he was killed around 0600 hrs.

The body was taken to police station Awantipora and later handed over to his family.

Large number of people of Noorpora and adjoining areas have assembled at the house of Musa. However, large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed and all roads leading to Noorpora, Tral, have been closed with barbed wire.

Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed elsewhere in the Pulwama to prevent demonstrations and clashes.

Jammu and Kashmri Police Officer  Imtiyaz Hussain‏ said called the killing of Musa as a 'great achievement'.

"#Zakir #Musa represented deadly Al-Qaida/ISIS ideology that’s threatening humanity at large. His killing is indeed a great achievement by J&K #Police & SFs in pursuit of terrorism free #Kashmir very soon.There’s a need to counter these elements on ideological front as well," he tweeted.

ISIS and Kashmir 'Hind province'

In a major development, terrorist group Islamic State earlier this month declared using the name of "Hind Province" for its operations in Jammu & Kashmir.

SITE Intelligence Group Director Rita Katz tweeted: "#ISIS declares its new "Hind Province" while claiming clashes with Indian forces in Amshipora. Of course, the establishment of a “province” in a region where it has nothing resembling actual governance is absurd, but it should not be written off."

In a statement, SITE said: "Now using the name "Hind Province" for its operations in Jammu & Kashmir, rather than Khorasan Province as it had done in the past, the Islamic State (IS) claimed inflicting casualties among Indian forces in a clash in Amshipora."