Friday, November 22News and updates from Kashmir

2021- A Year of Death, Internet Shutdowns, Arrests in Kashmir; 170 Militants Killed

2021 has been another year of bloodshed in the Kashmir valley. The passing year was a witness to targeted killings, the trail of destruction at encounter sites, killings of both militants and Government force personnel.

The year also saw various encounters in which the forces and families of alleged Militants conflicted the narratives of Jammu Kashmir Police claiming the innocence of their kin, killed during “encounters.”

Among the various militants killed was 9th class student, Faisal Ahmed Ganie of Shopian district in South Kashmir who was killed on April 11. Various top commanders including Mufti Altaf, the chief of Kashmir tigers– the outfit behind the Zewan Attack in Srinagar.

On the first day of 2021, the father of Mushtaq Ahmed of Pulwama staged a protest in Srinagar’s press colony claiming that his son Athar killed in the Lawaypora encounter was innocent. On July 01, the family of Zakir Bashir, a resident of the Czimmer area claimed that their son was innocent and killed in cold blood.

On July 28, the family of Imran Quyoom of Anantnag wrote a letter to the deputy commissioner of Anantnag stating that Imran was innocent and killed in a staged encounter.

592 overground workers were also arrested during 2021, the Police said. Several Police were booked under the Anti-terror law, which included three minors from the Shopian district of South Kashmir.

The Jammu Kashmir administration also created a special task force to monitor the activities of Government employees. More than two dozen employees were terminated from their services for being involved in “Anti National activities.” A committee was constituted to look into the possible roads, sites of importance to change the names of these spots to names of eminent personalities, deceased force personnel. So far, more than 30 name changes have occured in Kashmir, which majorly includes educational institutes.


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Internet suspension also continued in the year. Immediately after encounters, internet was snapped in various areas. Internet was snapped in Srinagar’s downtown area, parts of Kulgam and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir post the targeted killings in october. For at least a month, internet was snapped twice a day for more than 11 hours, in Srinagar’s downtown.

In the morning hours the first half starts from 7:45am to 11am, and then the second half of the shutdown begins from 2.45 pm till 10pm, they say.

The Kashmiriyat maintains the daily tracker of killings of both Government Force personnel, slain militants, weapons recovered from them, and houses damaged during encounters.

According to the data, a total of 190 militants have been killed in 2021 in Jammu Kashmir, 183 of them have been killed in the Kashmir valley. Out of which, six families have come out in public claiming the innocence of their children.

Below is the compilation of the date-wise- monthly data along with the number of militants killed during the particular encounter.

January: 03 Militants Killed in 01 Encounter/ Photo Mehran Bhat~ TK

The first gunbattle of 2021 was started between Militants and Government forces on 29th January at Mandoora Tral, where three militants were killed.

February: 05 Militants Killed in 02 Encounters. Photo-Mehran Bhat/The Kashmiriyat

Three militants were killed in an encounter between militants and government forces on 18th February at Badigam Shopian in South Kashmir.

On 24 February, Two militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in a forest range of Shalgul Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

March: 10 Militants Killed in 05 Encounters/ Photo Meer Irfan~TK

One militant was killed in an encounter in Tujjer area of Sopore in North Kashmir on 9th March.

On 11th March, Two militants were killed during an encounter at Kandipora Bijbihara Anantnag in South Kashmir.

On 16th March, two militants were killed in an encounter ar Rawalpora Shopain. The encounter was started on 13th March.

On 23th March, four militants were killed in an encounter at Manihal Shopain in South Kashmir.

On 27th March, A militant was killed in an encounter at Dangam Harmain area of South Kashmir’s Shopain district.

April: 17 Militants Killed in 06 Encounters/ Photo- Mehran Bhat ~TK

Three militants were killed in an encounter between militants and government forces at Kakpora Pulwama in South Kashmir on 3rd April.

On 9th April, Two militants were killed at Nowbugh Tral in Pulwama, One among two was identified as Imtiyaz Shah, the chief of AGH, active since April 2019. Five militants were killed in shopian – two from Hizbul Mujahideen, one from LeT, and two from AGH.

On 11th April, Two militants were killed in the encounter at Semthan in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

Earlier on April 11, three militants were killed in the operation at Hadipora area in the neighbouring Shopian district.

On 19th April, Two militants were killed at Zainpora area of Shopian, in an encounter.

May: 11 Militants Killed in 05 Encounters. Photo- Mehran Bhat/ The Kashmiriyat

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a foreign militant, were killed in an encounter with security forces at Nathipora Sopore in Baramulla district on 5th May.

On 5th May, three militants were killed in an encounter at Kanigam Shopian.

On 11th May, Three local Lashker-e-Taiba militants were killed at Vailoo village in Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in an encounter.

On 17 May, Two militants were killed in an encounter at Khanmoh Srinagar.

On 29 may, one militant was killed at Ganapora shopian, he was identified as Aitmad Ahmad Dar, a resident of Awend Shopian, associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

June: 12 Militants Killed in 07 Encounters. Photo/ Suhail Dar~ The Kashmiriyat

A militant was killed and injured a constable inside a police camp in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, was killed in a gunbattle on 3rd June.

On 16th June, A militant namely Uzair Ashraf Dar, was killed in an overnight gunfight at Wagoora area of Nowgam in Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

On 21 June, Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including a “foreigner”, were killed in an overnight operation in north Kashmir’s Sopore.

On 23th June, A local militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Heff Shirmal village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

On 25th June: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Hanjipora Shopian, district of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 28th June, A top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Nadeem Abrar and a Pakistani militant were killed by forces in an encounter in Parimpora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

On 30th 2021, Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chimmer village in Kulgam district, says police. However, family of one among three claimed their son (Zakir Bashir) was not a militant.

July: 31 Militants Killed in 14 Encounters

Five militants were killed in an encounter at Hanjan Rajpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, on 2nd July.

On 7th July, A top commander of HM, active since 2012 was killed in an encounter at Handwara, area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Identified as Mehraj ud din Halwai from Sopore.

On 8th July, Two militants were killed by forces in the encounter that broke out between militants and government forces in the Puchal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.

Two Pakistani militants were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri on 8th July.

On the same date, two militants were killed in a brief encounter at Zodar area of Kulgam in South Kashmir.

On 10th July, Three militants were killed in an encounter at Kawarigam area of the Ranipora Anantnag.

On 14th July, Three militants Killed During Encounter Between Militants and Security Forces in new colony area of Pulwama town.

On 16th July, Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed by the government forces in an encounter in the Danmar area of Srinagar.

On 19th July, Two militants were killed in an encounter in Check Sadiq Khan village of Shopian district, including top LeT commander identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Dar from Heff Shopian and his newly joined associate Majid Iqbal from Nowpora Imamsahib.

On 23th July, Two militants were killed in an encounter at Warpora Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

On 24th July, On the same date, three militants were killed in an encounter at Shokbaba Sumblar area of Bandipora district.

On 25th July, A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Munand in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 26th July, A militant was killed in an encounter at Aharbal in Kulgam district

On 31th July, Two top militants killed were killed in an encounter at Nagberan-Tarsar forest area of Pulwama.

Rambagh Gunfight
August: 16 Militants Killed in 09 Encounters. Photo/ Mehran Bhat for The Kashmiriyat

A Pakistani militant was killed in an encounter at Chandaji area of Bandipora on 3rd August.

On 6th August, Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Thanamandi forest belt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

On 7th August, One militant was killed in an encounter at Mochwa Budgam.

On 13th August, One militant – JeM top commander Lamboo @ Adnan (Pakistani) killed in an encounter near Malpora Mir Bazar area of Kulgam district.

On 19th August, one militant was killed in Rajouri’s Thanamandi.

On 20th August, Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama’s Khrew area.

On 21th August, Three unidentified militants were killed in an encounter in a forest area of Pulwama’s Tral in south Kashmir.

On 23 August, Two militants were killed in “a brief exchange of fire” in Aloochi Bagh Srinagar. They were identified as ‘commander’ Abbas Sheikh and his ‘second in command’ Saqib Manzoor of TRF militant outfit.

On 24th August, Three militants were killed at Peith Seer village of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

September: 07 Militants Killed in 04 Encounters. Photo/ Mehran Bhat~ TK

A militant was killed in an encounter in Rajouri, district of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 23th September, A militant was killed in an encounter at Kashwa village in Zainapora.

On the same date, three militants (Infiltrators) were killed in a gunfight at Hathlanga area of Uri sector in Baramulla district.

On 26th September, two militants were killed in an encounter at Watnira Bandipora district of North Kashmir.

October: 18 Militants killed in 13 Encounters. Image – Mehran Bhat for The Kashmiriyat

A militant was killed during an encounter at Rakhama Shopian on 1st October.

On 8th October, A militants l was killed in an encounter at Chanapora Srinagar on 8th October.

On 10th and 11th October, two militants were killed in an encounters at Bandipora and Anantnag.

On 12th October, Two militant were killed in an encounter at Feeripora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian.

Earlier in the day, the security forces had killed three militants of The Resistance Front (TRF) in a separate gun battle at Tulran Shopian.

On October 13, A top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Sham Sofi was killed in Tral area of South Kashmir.

On 15th October, A militant was killed in an encounter in wahibugh area of Pulwama district. He was identified as Shahid Basir Sheikh.

On the same date, A militant, Identified as Tanzeel, was killed in an encounter at Bemina area of Srinagar district.

On 16th October, A militant was killed in an encounter at Drangbal area of Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir. He was identified as LeT commander Umar Mustaq Khandey.

On 20th October, Two militants were killed in an encounter between government forces and militants in Devsar area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

On the same date, two militants were killed at Cheerbagh Dragad Shopian.

On 28th October, A ‘hybrid militant’ was killed in a brief shootout at Cherdari area of Baramulla district.

November: 13 Militants, 01 alleged ‘Militant associate’, An alleged ‘OGW’ and Building owner ‘Civilian/Killed in Crossfire’ were killed in 07 Encounters/Shootout Photo- Mehran Bhat ~TK

Two militants (Shiraz Molvi and Yawer Bhar) were killed in an encounter at Chanser Czawalgam in Kugam district on 11th November.

On the same date, A militant was killed in an encounter at Hamdaniya Colony of Bemina in Srinagar. He was identified as Amir Reyaz of Khrew.

On 15th November, Four were killed at Hyderpora Srinagar including A foreign militant, 1 alleged local militant associate (Family claiming he was civilian), an OGW – Killed by foreign militant,says police (family refuting, says he was civilian), Building owner in crossfire, says Police (Family refutes, says he was tortured).

On 17th November, Three militants were killed in an encounter, including district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Shakir Nazar at Pombay Kulgam.

On the same date, Two militants including TRF commander Afaq Sikandar were killed at Gopalpora Kulgam in South Kashmir.

On 20th November, A “A+ category” militant namely Mudasir Wagay was killed in an encounter at Ashumji Kulgam. He had been active since 2018.

On 24th November, three local militants, including a commander of TRF militant outfit, were killed in a brief shootout at Rambagh Srinagar.

December: 27 Militants Killed in 15 Encounters. Photo Ubaid Mukhtar~ TK

Two militants were killed in an encounter, including JeM Commander Yasir Parray and IED expert Furqan, at Qasbayar Pulwama in South Kashmir, on 1st December.

On 8th December, three militants were killed in an encounter at Check Cholan area of Shopian in South Kashmir.

On 12th December, A local Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant was killed in an encounter at Bargam area of Pulwama in south Kashmir. He was identified as Sameer Ahmad Tantray.

On 13th December, Two militants were killed in a shootout at Rangreth area of Srinagar.

On 14th December, A suspected militant was killed during a gunbattle at Surankote area of Jammu’s Poonch district.

On 15th December, A militant was killed in Usgam Pathri Rajpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

On 16th December, Two militants were killed in an encounter between militants and government forces at Redwani area of Kulgam district.

On 19th December, A Pakistani militant was killed at Harwan in Srinagar district. He was identified as Saifulla @ Abu Khalid.

On 24th December, A HM Militant was killed in an encounter at Mumanhal Arwani in Anantnag district. He was identified as Shahzad Ahmad Seh.

On 25th December, Two militants were killed in an encounter between militants and government forces at Chowgam Shopian.

On the same date, A militant was killed in an encounter at K. kalan Srigufwara area of Anantnag. He was identified as Faheem Bhat.

In third encounter on the same date, two militants were killed at Hardumir Tral area of Awantipora Pulwama. They were identified as Nadeem Bhat and Rasool @ Adil.

On 29th December, Two local militants and a Pakistani militant of JeM militant outfit were killed in an encounter at Mirjama Kulgam.

On 30th December, Three militants including a Pakistani were in an encounter at Nougam Shahabad Dooru in Anantnag district.

On 31 December, the last gunfight of 2021, three militants were killed at Panthachowk Srinagar.

Data compiled by Bhat Yasir

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