The year 2020 has seen ninety-two gunfights between Militants and Government Forces in which 182 Militants including top Hizb commanders, Riyaz Naikoo and Saifullah Dar were killed.
Riyaz Naikoo and Dr. Saifullah’s deaths at the hand of the Government forces, that too in less than eight months, is believed to have dealt a massive blow to Hizbul Mujahideen. As many as twelve Militants have surrendered during live encounters with security forces this year, said Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir.
The encounters in Kashmir left 210 persons dead including 182 Militants, 10 Armymen, 5 Para-military troopers, 5 policemen and 8 civilians (including those killed in Shopian Fake Encounter).
As per the data, Jammu Kashmir has witnessed 92 gunfights between Militants and Government forces. Jammu region witnessed 10 encounters in which 17 militants were killed while three Government forces personnel also lost their lives.
Among 10 districts of Kashmir Valley, Ganderbal in Kashmir witnessed no gunfight at all, though militants in this district carried out few attacks.
South Kashmir’s Pulwama district witnessed a large number of gunfights.
As per data, June this year was the bloodiest month in Kashmir as Government Forces managed to kill 46 Militants in various counter-insurgency operations.
According to data maintained by The Kashmiriyat, At least 17 Militants including Hammad Khan of Tral, who was an associate of Hizb ul Mujahideen were killed in the month of January during eight encounters in the month of January, The first encounter of the year raged on January 07 at Awantipora in Pulwama when a local militant affiliated with Hizbul-Mujahideen was killed
Breakdown of Militant Killings in January
07 January: Gunfight at Charsoo Awantipora killed militant identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar (17) resident of Arwani Bijebhera.
12 January: Gunfight at Gugarbasti Gulshanpora Tral: Three Militants Killed, identified as Umar Fayaz Lone@ Hamad Khan (HM) from Seer Tral, Adil Bashir Mir@ Abu Dujan (HM) from Mongahom Tral & Faizan Hamid Bhat (JeM) from Midoora Tral.
13 January: Gunfight at Behrampora Chadoora Budgam: Militant killed identified as Adil Gulzar Ganie from Dalwan Budgam (LeT).
15 January: Top Hizb commander killed in Gundana area of Doda gunfight identified as Haroon Wani from Gundana, Doda.
20 January: 3 militants killed in Wachi area of Zainpora Shopian gunfight who were identified as Adil Bashir@ Waleed Bahi from Baipora Zanpora (SPO who run away with 7 AK47) Waseem Wani @Ibrahim Commando from Worpora Nagbal Shopian & Aamir Ahmad Dar from Bemnipora Shopian all belongs to HM outfit.
21, 22 & 23 January: Opt Halted: Gunfight at Zantrag Khrew Pampore Pakistani Militant killed identified as Abu Saifullah (Pakistani).
25 January: Gunfight at Heri Parigam, 3 militants killed identified as Qari Yasir (JeM Commander), Abu Zubair@Musa both from Pakistan and Burhan Bashir Sheikh from Khasipora Tral, three army man also injured identified N K Mandel, Pavan Singh and Rajat Kumar.
27 January: Gunfight at Sheikhpora Arwani Bejibehera militant killed identified as Shahid Ahmad Khar son of Late Ghulam Ahmad Khar from Redwani Payeen.
31 January: 3 Pakistani militants killed after a police team was attacked at a toll plaza in Jammu’s Nagrota, a large quantity of arms and ammunition recovered.
The month of February saw nine Militants being killed during three encounters, One Sadat Ahmed Thoker, of Bijbehra, had gone missing one hour after the Government of India abrogated the special status of Jammu Kashmir on August 05, 2019.
Breakdown of February Encounters
05 February: Three militants killed in a gunfight after security forces’ checkpost was fired upon at Lawaypora Narbal in outskirts of Srinagar identified as Khateeb-ul-Das HM (Bejibhera, Anantnag), Zia-ul-Rehman LeT (Arth, Budgam) & Umer Fayaz according to JKP ISJK militant family regret it (Chattabal, Srinagar).
06 February: Decomposed dead body of JeM militant Rayees Dar from Ghulistan Tral was recovered two weeks after an encounter on February 22,23 and 24 in the Zantrag Khrew area.
19 February: Three militants killed near Bajikol Kunjibal Tral, identified as Top Hiz Commander as Jehangir Rafiq Wani of Amirabad, Tral, Raja Umer (Hizb) of Lurgam, Tral and Sadat Thoker son of Farooq Ahmed Thoker, a resident of Waghama Bijbehera, Anantnag, Sadat went missing on August 5 joined AGH.
22 February: Two LeT militants killed in Naina Baba Khali, Sangam identified as Naveed Ahmad Bhat from Qaimoh Kulgam and Aqib Ahmad Bhat from Wampora Kulgam.
DGP J&K Police: Less than 250 militants active in J&K.. Says 25 militants killed in 12 encounters in first 52 days of 2020, three militants infiltrated in last two months, one among them killed, 45 OGW’s arrested from last 52 Days.
According to the data maintained by The Kashmiriyat, four encounters took place in the month of March in which seven Militants were. The first encounter of the month raged at Chadoora area of Budgam district on March 04.
Several militants and associates of different militant groups were also arrested in March. Some officials were also killed by the militants in different areas of Kashmir.
Breakdown of encounters in the month of March
09 MARCH: Two Militants were killed in Shopian encounter identified as Shabir Ahmad Malik from Tungdunoo, Kulgam and Amir Ahmad Dar from Melhura, Anantnag both were associated with LeT.
13 MARCH: Militant Mudasir Ahmad Bhat son of Sonaullah Bhat, a resident of Shutloo Rafiabad was killed in a very brief exchange of gunfire with joint party Rafiabad.\
15 MARCH: Four militants were killed in Watergam, Dialgam Anantnag identified as Muzaffar Ahmad (LeT) and Umar Ahmad (LeT) from Sopat village of Qazigund, Gulzar Ahmad (JeM) from Tarigam village and Sajad Ahmad from Tengbal Frisal (LeT).
MARCH 17: No major militancy related incident in hinterland after Art 370 rollback said Union MoS Home Reddy. He also said 49 militants were killed from Aug 5 last year to March 10 this year in 79 incidents.
According to the data maintained by The Kashmiriyat, in the month of April, seven encounters took place at different places of Kashmir. The first encounter raged on April 01 at Zurhama woods of Kupwara, 27 Militants were killed in the Month of April.
Breakdown of encounters in April.
APRIL 04: Four militants were killed in Hardmanguri, Khur Batpora in Dhpora Kulgam identified as Aijaz Ahmed Naiko urf Moosa son of Mohammad Iqbal Naiko from Chimmer Dhpora, Shahid Ahmed Malik son of Mohammad Sadiq from Khull Dhpora Kulgam, Waqar Farooq son of Farooq Itoo from Chawalgam Kulgam and M Ashraf Malik urf Sadam from Arwani Anantnag all were affiliated with militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.
APRIL 06: Five militants, Five Army personnel were killed in Keran sector of Kupwara. Army personnel identified as Subedar Sanjeev Kumar of HP, Haveldar Davendra Singh of Uttarakhand, Paratrooper Bal Krishan of HP, Para Trooper Amit Kumar of Uttarakhand and Chhatrapal Singh of Rajasthan.
APRIL 08: One JeM militant was killed in Arampora Sopore gunfight identified as Sajad Nawab Dar son of Muhammad Nawab of Saidpora Sopore, Army soldier injured identified as Jaswinder Singh of 22RR.
APRIL 17: Two Hizb militants were killed in a brief gunfight in the Dachen forest range of Kishtwar district identified as Basharat Hussain son of Ghulam Qadir Gainoo and Ashiq Hussain son of Bashir Ahmed, both residents of village Tander, the Dachen.
APRIL 22: Four militants were killed in a gunfight with government forces at Melhora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district identified as Tariq Bhat (Khasipora, Shopian), Basharat Shah (Litter, Pulwama), Wakeel Dar (Litter, Pulwama), Uzair Bhat (Main town, Baramulla).
APRIL 24: Two militants (Adil Thoker son of Abdul Gani Thoker, resident of Pombai, Damhal Hanjipora, Shahid Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammed Afzal Bhat resident of Bugam Kulgam) were killed minutes after they abducted a railway policeman (Sartaj Ahmad Itoo) at Yaripora area of Kulgam and 1 policeman also was injured in the shootout.
APRIL 25: Two militants, OGW were killed in an encounter at Goripora Area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama.
APRIL 26: Militant associate killed in Asthal area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, identified as Aquib Mushtaq Lone son of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, a resident of Soch village of Kulgam.
APRIL 27: Three militants were killed in Lower Munda village of Qazigund, Kulgam identified as Bilal Ah Wagey son of Bashir Ahmad Wagey from Wudipora Pulwama, Riyaz Ahmad Itoo son of Mohammad Akbar Itoo from Sangran Kulgam and Asif Majeed Dar son of Majeed Dar from Kakapora Pulwama, 7 civilians injured.
APRIL 29: Three militants were killed while an army officer, two soldiers and a civilian were injured in an encounter at Melhoora. Militants identified as Burhan Majid Koka of Melhora, and Nasir Bhat of Arwani and Omar of Pulwama.
According to the data maintained by The Kashmiriyat, seven encounters took place in the month of May in which 15 militants were killed.
Breakdown of encounters in the month of May.
MAY 02: Two Hizb militants were killed in an encounter at Dangerpora, Pulwama, the cop was injured. Militants identified as Sahil Ahmad Bhat son of M Abdullah Bhat from Chakoora Pulwama & Muzzafar Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Wani from Daulatpora, Budgam.
MAY 03: Colonel, Major among 4 soldiers, police officer, 2 militants were killed In Chanjimull Handwara gunfight five security men identified as Colonel namely Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anup Sood and two soldiers one identified as Shinde Mangesh another Sub Inspector namely Mohammad Shakeel Qazi of SOG J&K police.
MAY 06: Two militants and a civilian were killed in Beighpora Awantipora gunfight identified as Reyaz Naikoo from Beighpora, Aadil and civilian as Jahangir Yousuf Parray of Utmulla. Over 2 dozen protesters were injured in clashes in Pulwama, 4 among them suffered bullet wounds, 12 Pellet wounds.
MAY 06: Two militants were killed in an encounter with government forces at the Sarshali Khrew area of Awantipora.
MAY 7: Militant and an Army soldier was been killed in an encounter at Dachhlana Padyarna area of Doda identified as Tahir Ahmad Bhat son of M Subhan Bhat of Malangpora Pulwama & Lance Naik Raj Singh.
May 19: Encounter between security forces & Militants in Nawakadal area of Srinagar, 2 Militants including the son of Hurriyat leader, were been killed in the operation, three civilians also succumbed to their injuries.
On 24/25 May, 2 Militants were killed in a joint operation by Kulgam Police, 34 RR and CRPF’s 18 Bn at Khurd-Hanjipora area, in Manzgam, Kulgam, identified as Adil Ahmed Wani, Shopian-AGH and Shahid Ahmad Thoker, Shopian-AGH.
On 30 May two affiliates of Lashkar e Taiba were killed in an encounter with J&K Police, Indian Army, CRPF in Wanpora area of Kulgam, they were identified as Naveed of Qaimmoh Kulgam district commander Let Kulgam and Aqib of Wanpora Redwani Kulgam.
On May 31 Two Militants were killed in the Poshkreeri area of the Anantnag district.
The highest number of Militants 46 were killed in the month of June 2020 during various encounters, as per the daily data maintained by The Kashmiriyat.
On 2nd June, Two Hizbul Militants were killed in an encounter in Tral area of Pulwama district.
June 03: Three JeM militants were killed in Kangan, Pulwama. One a Pakistani national, Abdul Rehman Ilyas Fauji baba, the maker of IED bomb loads recovered on May 28.
7th June: Five Hizbul Militants including Owais Malik of Arwani, Ishfaq itoo-HM, Aadil mir of Shicz Kulgam and Bilal Mir of Kulgam were killed in an encounter in Shopian’s Reban.
On 8th June Four Militants were killed in Shopian’s Pinjora area. They were identified as Umer Dhobi of Pinjoora Shopian, Rayees Khan of Vehil, Saqlain wagay of Reban Shopian and Waqeel Naik. All were associates of Hizb ul Mujahideen.
June 10: Government forces killed down five Militants in an encounter in the Sugoo area of Hendhama in Jammu Kashmir’s Shopian district.
On June 16, three militants were killed in Shopian’s Turkwangam encounter who were identified as Zubair ul Islam Wani from Turkwangam Shopian (TOP Commander), Kamran Manhas from Zawoora Shopian and Muneeb ul Islam from Sugan Shopian.
On June 19, Five Militants identified as Ishfaq Ahmad, Nadeem Zaman of Shopian’s Heffkhur, Jahangir Ah Malik, Adil Hussain Pal of and Mohsin Ahmad Wani/ were killed in an encounter at Bandpawa area of Shopian.
Two Foreign Militants were killed on the same day in an encounter in the Meej area of Pampore.
On June 21, Three Militants namely Shakoor Farooq, Bharthana, Shahid Bhat, Semthana- and Mohsin Khanday were killed in an encounter at Zoonimar area of Srinagar.
On June 23, 2 Militants were killed in the Bandzoo area of Pulwama South Kashmir. The slain were identified as Owais Ahmed Bhat son of Mohd Yousuf Bhat, R/o Molu Chitragam, Azaz Ah Ganai s/o Bashir Ganai. Ramnagar Shopian.
On June 25, Two militants were killed in an encounter that broke out in the wee hours of Thursday between militants and security forces at the Hardshiva area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
On June 27, three, Three Pakistan Militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Chewa Ullar area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, identified Qasim Shah alias Jugnoo of Midoora, Tral, Haris Manzoor Bhat of Koil-Shikargarh Tral and and Basit Ahmad Parray of Laribal, Tral.
On June 29, 03 militants were killed in an encounter between militants & a joint team of security forces including the 19RR Ranipora Khulchuhar area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The three included a militant from Anantnag town, Tariq Khan, Nadeem Ahmed from Kulgam and Masood of Chenab valley’s Doda district.
On June 30, two militants were killed in a gunfight in Waghama area of Bijbehara. One of the slain was an ISJK commander, Zahid Ahmed Das.
On the same day, Two Militants were killed during an encounter that raged between militants and Government forces at the Brental area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama District which included Imriyaz Peer, AGH (Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind).
In the month of July, nine Militants were killed, Shopian Fake encounter which resulted in the killing of three civilians at the hands of Government Forces was staged on July 18
16 Militants were killed in the Month of August during seven Gunfights that raged in different parts of the valley. Top Hizb commander, Azad Lelhari was also killed during an encounter.
On 13 August, Two Militants including Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Azaad Lalhari of Pulwama killed in an encounter at Kamrazipora today in an operation launched by Police along with 53 Rashtriya Rifles.
on 19 August, two Militants including top LeT commander Naseer-ud-Din Lone were killed in an encounter at Ganipora- Kralgund area of Handwara North Kashmir. Nasir un din lone was a resident of Brath Kalan in Sopore.
On 20 August, a militant was killed in Molu Chitragam area of the Shopian district. The Militant was identified as Talib Hussain Mir, the son of Nisar Ahmed Mir, a resident of Mohlipora in Kulgam.
On August 29, 4 Militants killed in Kiloora Shopian Encounter were identified as Shakoor Parray (Shopian), Suhail Bhat (Shopian), Shakir-ul-Jabbar (Pulwama), Zubair Nengroo (Shopian).
On August 30, Three Militants were Killed in an encounter at Zadoora area of Pulwama, the three Militants were identified as Aadil Hafiz, Dalipora, Arshid Dar of Drabgam and Rouf.
On August 30, three slain Militants killed in Pantha Chowk Srinagar encounter were identified as Locals, Sakib, Umar and Zubair.
15 Militants were killed during gunfights in the month of September, Five were killed in two gunfights in North Kashmir on September 04.
On Sept 4, 2 Militants were killed in the Yedipora area of Baramulla by the Government forces in an encounter. 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 magazines & 1 pistol were seized from the possession of Militants.
Another 3 were killed in an encounter at Pattan in Baramulla on Sept 4.
On September 11, forces recovered the dead body of a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Militant from the Sukhnaag Nallah Kawoosa in the Narbal block of Budgam district. The Militant, identified as Aqib Lone, had received a bullet injury during an encounter by forces on September 7.
On 17 September three Militants were killed in Firdousabad Batamaloo in Srinagar district of Jammu Kashmir, the three slain militants were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen. They were identified as Zakir Paul, son of Nisar Ahmad resident of Aloora, Imam Sahib Shopian, Ubair Mushtaq Bhat, son of Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Badragund Kulgam and Adil Hussain Bhat, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat resident of Batapora Chursoo Awantipora.
On September 22, One Militant identified as Asif Muzaffar Shah, a resident of Sambora Pampore village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was killed in Nawhar village of Charar-e-Sharif town of Budgam district.
September 24: An Al-Badr Militant, Irfan Ahmad Dar, was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Machama Tral area, Awantipora. He had joined the outfit a month ago.
On September 24, Two militants were killed in an encounter in Sirhama Anantnag, one of them was identified as Adil bhat, of Larve area in Kakpora Pulwama.
On 27 September, two Militants were killed in the Samboora area of Pulwama- identified as Aijaz Ahmad Reshi and Sajad Ahmad Sofi both residents of Awantipora affiliated with Laskar e Taiba.
In October At least 21 Militants, as per data maintained by The Kashmiriyat were killed during encounters between Forces and Militants.
On 07 October, three Militants identified as Sajad Malla of Maldera Shopian, Junaid Rasheed of Tumlahaal Pulwama and Mehraj din of Arigam Pulwama were killed during an encounter at Sugan Zainapora area of Shopian.
On 10 October, two Militants Tariq Mir, of Zangalpora and a foreigner, Usman were killed in an encounter in Kala Drang area of Yaripora in Kulgam.
10 October: Two Militants including Top militant commander Zahid Rashid Bhat alias Zahid Tiger were killed, other slain militant was identified as Adnan, a non-local, were killed in an encounter in the Dadoora area of Pulwama.
12 October: Two Militants including top Hizb commander were killed during an encounter that raged between Militants & Government Forces in the Barzulla area of Srinagar.
16 October: One Militant was killed in an encounter Between Forces and Militants in Nagam Chadoora Area of Budgam district.
On 17th, October, One Lashkar militant was killed in Larnoo Kokarnag encounter identified as Towseef_Ahmad_Pandit son of Ab Gani_Pandit resident of Talangam Pulwama.
19 October: 2 Militants were killed in Melhoora Shopian, identified as Tawseef Ahmad Khanday S/o Ab Salam Khanday R/o Yaripora Kulgam and Umer Thoker S/o Gulzar Ahmad Thoker R/o Sugenpora Kulgam.
On 21 October, Three militants were killed in Hakripora Pulwama encounter identified as Nazim from Hakripora Pulwama, Chota Bhai and Anwar Bhai from Pakistan.
26 October: One militant was killed while another militant surrendered before security forces in an ongoing operation in Noorpora area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
180 militants, including top commanders of different outfits, were killed in 75 successful operations conducted by security forces while 55 personnel were martyred during the last over nine months in Kashmir valley: DGP Jammu Kashmir Police.
In November Ten Militants were killed during four encounters that raged in the Kashmir valley. The top commander of Hizb ul Mujahideen, Saifullah who was a successor to Riyaz Naikoo was also killed.
On November 01, two Militants including Hizb commander Saifullah were killed in an encounter in Rangreth area of Srinagar.
On November 06, two unidentified foreign militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba out were killed in an 18-hour long encounter between security forces and militants in Meej area of Pampore.
On 10 November, Two Militants, Umer Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, a resident of Kutpora area in Shopian, Irfan Ahmed Thoker, a resident of Kutpora area in the Shopian district of South Kashmir were killed during an encounter in Kutpora Shopian.
On 11 November, 4 Unidentified Militants were Killed in Nagrota Encounter.
Eight Militants have been killed in the month of December during four encounters that raged in the Kashmir valley.
On December 09, three Militants identified as Umer Ali son Ali Mohammed Mir, a resident of Dadsara area in Tral who was active since 10,08,2020, Owais Farooq son Allie, resident of Noorpora, Tral, active since 08,08/20 and Mehraj u Din Lone, Bashir Ahmed, a Resident of Arigam Pulwama was active since 01 July 2020 were killed during an encounter in Tiken area of Pulwama.
On 18 December, One Militant was injured during the Anantnag encounter. He succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar hospital. identified as Zaheer Abbas lone of inder area in Pulwama.
On December 24, Two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants including a 22-year-old ace footballer from the Sopore area were killed in a fierce gun battle at Wanigam Payeen village of north Kashmir Baramulla district.
On December 27, Two Militants were killed during the encounter that started on Friday evening between militants and Government forces in the Kanipora area of Shopian in South Kashmir.