SAA event in Jammu & Kashmir, Keshwa village in Shopian District area, India on Thu 23rd September 2021

One militant was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Keshwa village in Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on September 23 (today), reports Daily Excelsior. The neutralised militant has been identified as Anayat Ashraf Dar, who had on September 22 fired upon a civilian at Chitragam Kalan area in Shopian, according to Kashmir Police. One pistol and ammunition have been recovered from Dar, who Police said was a newly active militant and had been previously involved in drugs. The civilian was identified as Jeewer Hameed Bhat, a shopkeeper and a resident of Dangerpora Chitragam Kalan. According to the Police, Bhat received gunshot injuries in his leg and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be stable. The Kashmir Zone Police, in a tweet on September 23, informed, “Last night recently active terrorist (militant) who was earlier an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and also involved in drugs, namely Anayat Ashraf Dar S/O Ashraf Dar R/O Keshwa Shopian fired upon a civilian Jeewer Hameed Bhat, who got seriously injured and is still hospitalised. Anayat also used to threaten other people in and around his village with his illegal acquired weapons.” Acting on a specific input about the presence of militants in the village, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched, and Anayat was killed in an ensuing encounter.|Meanwhile, the decomposed body of a Territorial Army jawan (trooper) identified as Shakir Manzoor Wagay, abducted by militants on August 2 last year, was recovered near Bank tower in Mohammad Pora area in Kulgam District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on September 22, reports Daily Excelsior. A Police official said that it seems the body is of an abducted soldier but final confirmation will come after the DNA report. Territorial Army soldier, Shakir Manzoor a resident of Reshiepora village in Shopian was abducted by suspected militants on August 2 last year and his car was burnt down in Kulgam village. His clothes were found in Landoora area of Shopian on 5th August. Since August 2 last year, his family members as well as relatives have been searching for him. However, there were no traces of him since then. A week after his abduction an unverified audio message surfaced on social media in which the speaker said to be militant, without identifying himself, claimed to have abducted and killed the soldier after which his family members demanded his body. The speaker also claimed that they have buried him at an unidentified location and his body won’t be returned, like authorities are not returning bodies of militants.