Shopian is new address of homegrown militancy

In light of the increasing number of homegrown militant attacks, Shopian appears to be the de facto address of militancy breeding in Kashmir. Case in point, 11 of the 13 ultras killed in South Kashmir on Sunday were from Shopian. Additionally, except one, all had joined the militant ranks in 2017 and 2018; the newest recruit was just a week old.

Besides killing Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, some of the slain ultras — Zubair Ahmad Turray alias Abu Bakar, Ishfaq Ahmad Thoker alias Abrar and Gayas-ul-Islam — were allegedly involved in the brutal assassination of BJP leader Gowhar Ahmad Bhat whose throat was slit on November 2 last year.

Turray had joined Hizbul Mujahideen on May 2 last year after he escaped from the police station where he in jail for four years prior after he was booked under Public Safety Act.

Ishfaq, meanwhile, was the A++ category militant who carried a Rs 12.5 lakh bounty on his head. Ishfaq also figured in the killing of 22-year-old army officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz on May 10 last year.

In fact, five militants killed in the Kachdoora encounter, too, turned out to be locals. Body of one of the militants, Sameer Lone of Hillow village, was retrieved by locals from the debris and handed over to his family without informing the police.

"All of them are understood to be part of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and had joined the organization in the last one year. Ishfaq Thoker was a key element of Hizbul involved in several attacks on security forces and civilians," said a police spokesman.

Ishfaq Thoker was the oldest recruit, whereas the youngest recruit was Rouf Bashir Khanday, who had joined just last week.

"Shopian has been the fertile ground for militant recruitment. Given its topography and support system, the militants are finding the district a safe place to hide," said an officer.