2020: 90 gunfights in J&K, 70 in south Kashmir, 180 militants killed, 9 captured alive

Srinagar: 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir has been deadly as the year witnessed the killing of 180 militants in 90 gunfights, majority of whom were witnessed in southern districts of Kashmir, official figures revealed Monday.

The data accessed by KNO suggests that the Jammu region witnessed 10 encounters in which 17 militants and 3 government forces were killed.

“In total, the year 2020 witnessed the killing of 205 persons that includes 178 militants including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen that include Reyaz Naikoo and Dr Saifullah, besides top Lashkar and Jaish commanders including Fauji Bhai of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), an IED expert,” a security expert privy to the official figures said.

Kashmir witnessed 80 gunfights alone, the data reveals, majority of whom took place in Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir. Figures reveal that seven militants were killed in two encounters at Nagrota area of Jammu.

Ganderbal district of Kashmir has witnessed no encounter this year, officials said, even as a few attacks were carried out by militants including the one at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s house where a PSO lost his life.

Interestingly, Srinagar witnessed seven gunfights including the one at Batamaloo, where a woman also got killed, Lawaypora, Zoonimar, Malabagh and Pantha chowk. “In an encounter at Nawakadal, government forces killed Junaid Sehrai, the Hizb commander, while in another gunfight at Rangreth area, Hizb chief Dr Saifullah was killed,” the official said.

Officials said that in 2020, nine militants were captured alive at encounter sites while more than 700 youth who were about to join militancy were counselled and reunited with their families. (KNO)