By Mudassir Maqbool/Peerzada Waseem
Shopian/Sopore: A militant affiliated with ISJK was killed in an early morning encounter with government forces in Amshipora area of South Kashmirs Shopian district.
Police sources identified the slain as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Abdulla bhai, a resident of Model town Sopore.
Police sources said Sofi was associated with Islamic State Jammu Kashmir outfit.”He was earlier associated with Harkatul Mujahideen and later he joined ISJK,” police sources told INS.
Sofi was arrested in 2016 as a part of OGW network and was later released. He however joined militant ranks. He was again detained along with arms in the same year, police sources said. As soon as he was released six months later, he again went missing.
“As an OGW he was Harkat-ul-Mujahideen’s man but he switched over to ISJK,” police said.
Meanwhile authorities in Sopore ordered closure of all schools in Sopore as a precautionary measure. “In view of the prevailing situation and a precautionary measure, all schools, higher secondary schools and Degree colleges, both Private or government run in sub division Sopore shall remain closed today on May 10,” reads an order issued in this regard by Additional District Magistrate, Sopore. The authorities have also snapped internet in Sopore.
