Basharat Rasheed
Srinagar: Tral and many other areas of south Kashmir are observing shutdown against the killing of top Al-badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam. All the shops are closed while public transport is mainly off the roads in Tral. Reports of spontaneous shutdown were also received from other parts of south Kashmir including Shopian district. On Saturday, Zeenat-ul-Islam alias Dr Usman and his associate Shakeel Ahmad Dar were caught unawares as Army’s 34 Rashtriya Rifles personnel came in sumo vehicles and cordoned off the kathpora village in Yaripora.
The SOG of J&K Police and the CRPF joined the army before encounter with the hiding militants was established, officials said. There was a brief exchange of fire, leading to the killing of Zeenat-ul-Islam (30), listed in police records as category A++ militant and carried a bounty of Rs 12.5 lakh on his head.
