1. Home
2. Top Stories

Sallah-u-Din’s ex-bodyguard killed in Batamaloo blast

SYED YASIR. Dated: 7/18/2013 12:33:14 AM

SRINAGAR, July 17: Former body guard and close aide of United Jehad Council (UJC) chairman and Hizbul Mujahideen supremo, Syed Sallah-u-Din, was killed while four policemen and three civilians injured in a grenade blast outside general bus stand Batamaloo here today.
Police said the incident occurred when Shakeel Ahmad Kasana, the former body guard of Sallah-u-Din, was being taken in a police vehicle from Pantha Chowk police station to Baramulla sub jail. According to police the vehicle came under grenade attack from militants outside general bus station Batamaloo around 12.30 PM.
The grenade landed inside the vehicle and exploded with a big bang injuring Shakeel and four cops traveling with him in the vehicle. Three civilians moving on the road also sustained splinter injuries. The former bodyguard of UJC chairman succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Shakeel Ahmad Kasana, was under trial militant and a resident of Kangan area of district Ganderbal. The condition of one of the policemen is considered to be critical. Three civilians Ghulam Nabi Malik, son of Mohammad Subhan Malik resident of Soibugh, Budgam, Mohammad Saif Vaganu, Hamdania Colony Bemina and Amir Hussain also got injured in the blast.
The injured were immediately referred to SKIMS Soura for treatment.
Panic gripped the area after the incident. A large number of footpath vendors, who usually remain present in the area, ran for safety. The passengers waiting for buses at general bus stand terminal also ran for safety. The vehicular and pedestrian movement was affected around the general bus stand. Most of the shopkeepers also downed their shutters after the incident.
The senior police officers and CRPF reached the spot to assess the situation. The police and CRPF cordoned off some portion of the general bus stand and identity cards of the people, especially of youth were checked. However, reports said that no one was arrested there.
Soon after the incident, the security around the entire Srinagar city was beefed up. The police and CRPF erected barricades at dozens of places in Srinagar, particularly in civil line areas to foil any other militant attack. The cops and CRPF were checking vehicles, especially two wheelers.
Reports also said that the Shakeel Ahmad Kasana, a resident of Akhal village of Kangan in Ganderbal district, was a Hizbul Mujahideen militant who was arrested last year under Section 7/25 of the Arms Act and slapped with the Public Safety Act.
Reports also said that the detainee was released by a local court few days back, but the state government again imposed public safety against him and he was taken from Pantha Chowk police station to Baramulla sub jail where he was to be lodged.