Srinagar, Oct 31 : Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a surge in militancy-related incidents throughout October, resulting in the loss of 19 lives. The casualties include eight civilians, three infiltrators, three soldiers, two army porters, and three militants.
Among the slain civilians, one was a local Kashmiri, two hailed from Jammu, and five were residents from outside Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, three soldiers sustained injuries during these incidents.
The data available with the news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that October started with an encounter between joint forces and militants in Chatro area of Kishtwar.
Three infiltrators were killed in two encounters at Kamalkote Uri of Baramulla district and in Keran Sector of North Kashmir’s border district Kupwara.
In the second week of October, militants abducted a TA soldier Hailal Ahmed Bhat of Anantnag from Kazwan forest area of Shangus Kokarnag and later killed him. His colleague managed to escape.
A day after killing a non- local labourer from Bihar Ashok Chauhan at Wandana Malhora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian, militants shot dead seven persons including six labourers and a doctor in the Gagangeer area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal. The victims were identified as Gurmeet Singh, son of Dharam Singh of Gurdaspur, Punjab; Dr Shahnawaz Qadir Dar of Nadigam, Budgam; Anil Kumar Shukla; Faheem Nazir; Shashi Abrol of Jammu; and Muhammad Hanif and Muhammad Kaleem of Bihar.
Two soldiers and two army potters were killed in a militant assault in Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.
Three militants from across the border were killed in an encounter after they attacked an army ambulance near Shivasan temple in Battal area of Akhnoor Jammu.
Notably, there were 14 fatalities in September including 3 soldiers, 2 infiltrators, 8 militants and a policeman. [KNT]
