Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police on early Monday said policeman turned militant commander was among two killed in Shopian gunfight.
Ishfaq Ahmad Dar alias Abu Akram, a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander from Heff Shirmal village of Shopian, was among two militants killed in the Sidiq Khan area of the district during the gunfight. Another militant was not yet identified.
The Inspector General of Police (Kashmir), Vijay Kumar, said that “top commander of proscribed militant outfit LeT Ishfaq Dar alias Abu Akram, who was active since 2017 was killed.”
In 2017, Dar, who was a policeman, had gone home on a ten-day leave and was to report back at District Police Lines in Kathua district on 23 October 2017. But he didn’t report back to duty.
A few days later, a photograph of Dar appeared on social media, in which he was wearing a black skull cap while holding an AK-47 rifle. The picture mentioned his name, alias, and the outfit, announcing he had joined the militant ranks.
Dar, son of a farmer, has two brothers and two sisters.
The gunfight in Shopian was carried out by the joint team of police, army’s 34RR, and CRPF on Saturday late evening in Sidiq Khan area after having specific information about the presence of some militants.
