In the ongoing year, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 86 gunfights between militants and security forces. Among these 86 gunfights, 77 alone rage in Kashmir Valley. These encounters in Kashmir left 203 persons dead including 178 militants, 10 soldiers, 5 Para-military troopers, 5 policemen and 5 civilians.
At least 17 militants and 3 soldiers were killed in 9 gunfights in different parts of Jammu region as well. The areas that fall under the jurisdiction of Jammu region and witnessed gunfights this year included Khari-Taharat and Nowshera areas of Rajouri, Doda, Dachan Kishtwar and Nagrota.
Seven militants were alone killed in twin gunfights of Nagrota Jammu. In the recent gunfight, the truck driver ferrying Jaish militants managed to escape from the spot and is still absconding.
Some villages in Kashmir Valley witnessed more than one gunfight. These include Zantral Khrew, Meej Pampore and Melhora and Pinjora in Shopian. Among 10 district of Kashmir Valley, Ganderbal in Central Kashmir witnessed no gunfight at all, though militants in this district carried out few attacks. South Kashmir’s Pulwama district witnessed large number of gunfights. These gunfights in the district rage in Charsoo, Gulshanpora Tral, Kuchalman Tral, Chewlora Tral, Machohoma Tral, Saimoh Tral, Zantral Khrew, Hari Pari Awantipora, Kangan, Goripora Barsoo, Dangarpora, Meej, Bandzoo, Gusso, Kamrazpora, Zadora, Samboora Pampore, Dadoora, Hakripora Kakapora, Noorpora Awantipora, Begpora, Shar Shali Khrew, and Tikan village, reported KNT.
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The data available with news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that militants and Joint Forces engaged in 7 gunfights in Kashmir capital Srinagar. The areas where these gunfights took place included Lawaypora, Zoonimar, Malabagh, Batamaloo, Barzulla, Pantha Chowk, Kani Mazar Nawakadal and Rangreith,
The areas in Budgam that witnessed gunfights in the ongoing year included Behrampora Chadoora, Nawhar Charar-e-Sharif and Aribagh Mochwa. In Baramulla district of North Kashmir these areas include Shatlu Rafiabad, Armpora Sopore, Hardshiva Sopore, Reban Sopore, Naugam Sector, Nowan Kreeri and Yedipora Pattan. Keran, Chang Mohalla Handwara, Ganawpora Kralgund Handwara and Machil areas in frontier district Kupwara witnessed gunfights.
Militancy infested South Kashmir’s Shopian also witnessed gunfights in Wachi, Reban,Keegam, Melhora, Turkawangam, Mool Chitragam, Kilora, Sugan, Chakoora and Kutpora villages. Another district of South Kashmir’s Kulgam witnessed only 5 encounters while in Anantnag encounters rage in Bijbehara, Sirhama Bijbehara, Arwani Bijbehara, Sangam Bijbehara, Kharpora Bijbehara, Wanghama Bijbehara, Watargam, Ronipora, Reban, Pinjora and Larnu Kokernag.
According to KNT, June this year was the bloodiest month in Kashmir. Joint Forces managed to neutralize 45 militants in this month. A Para-military trooper was also killed in June in Bandzoo village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Some of the top militants who were killed this year included Hizbul Mujhadeen Operational Commander Reyaz Naiko, Junaid Sehrai, Dr Saifullah, Sajad Nawabi, Asif Dar, Ansar Ghazwatul Hind Commander Burhan Koka, Tahir Bhat, IED expert Ikram alias Faujibhai, Zubair Wani, Waleed and Jaish Kashmir Chief Qari Yasir.
