Jammu: Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Junaid Sehrai and two of his accomplices were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Srinagar, in Jammu-Kashmir. Only a few days ago, Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter. The killing of Junaid after that has delivered a massive jolt to Hizbul. This is the first encounter in Srinagar in two years.
The Jammu-Kashmir police and CRPF launched a search operation in the thickly populated area of Nawakadal, in Srinagar on Monday midnight. The security forces surrounded the area where the terrorists were hiding. The terrorists opened fire as soon as they became aware that they were surrounded by the security forces. Junaid Sehrai, a second level commander of Hizbul, was killed in the encounter. He is the second big terrorist killed after Riyaz Naikoo. As per reports, Junaid is the son of Ashraf Sehrai, the President of the separatist organisation Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
Originally from Srinagar, Junaid joined the terrorists in 2018. Junaid was a divisional commander. Junaid was active in Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama and Shopian areas. Attacking the security forces and threatening the civilians were being done by Junaid. Another terrorist Tariq Sheikh also was killed in the encounter. Tariq had joined the terrorist organisation only in March. DGP Dilbag Sing informed that Tariq was a resident of Pulwama.
The security forces were on a lookout for Junaid since the last few months. Singh said that the operation was planned after a tip-off that Junaid was holed up in Nawakadal area in Srinagar. The killing of Naikoo, followed by Junaid, is considered to be a major success for the security forces. Possibility of terrorists regrouping is being predicted, given the presence of terrorists in Srinagar. Regrouping of the terrorists in Srinagar is a cause for concern. Internet, mobile and the other BSNL services have once again been stopped in the state. A search operation is said to be going on in this area.
In October 2018, Srinagar had witnessed an encounter between the security forces and terrorists. Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Mehraj Ud Din Bangroo had been killed in that encounter. This is the first encounter in Srinagar since then.
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