Labourer killing: Massive searches underway in Bijbehara villages

Srinagar, April 18: A day after terrorists shot dead a Bihar resident at Jabli Pora village of Bijbehera in south Kashmir, security forces on Thursday conducted a massive search operation and questioned many suspects in the area.
A police officer told Rising Kashmir that a search operation was underway in the area for the past 24 hours to track terrorists involved in the brutal terror incident.
“On Thursday, a massive search operation was conducted in the area and many suspects were rounded up for questioning. So far no one has been formally arrested, it seems there were also terror associates involved in the killing,” he said.
A Police officer said some of these individuals are under scrutiny as part of our efforts to identify those responsible for this act of terror incident. As more evidence emerges, we will proceed to formally detain those whose involvement becomes clear, he added.
Acting on intelligence, night raids were carried out in various areas to apprehend suspected individuals in their respective localities.
“Additionally, more raids are expected to be conducted in the coming days in the surrounding villages of the Jablipora area, as we follow all leads to apprehend the culprits,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabir Ahmad Ganaie, a landlord at Jablipora Bijbehera where Raju Shah was living alongwith his wife and 3 children told Rising Kashmir that the slain labourer was living on rented accommodation for the past 3 years.
“I heard about this incident; I was in Masjid at 8 pm on Wednesday. It was the saddest day for the entire village, killing innocents is an inhuman act,” he said.
Ganai said Raju was the lone bread earner of the house. He was earning for her poor family. We never thought he would be killed like this. He was innocent and had done nothing wrong,” he said.
Ganai condemned the killing and stated that Raju was a son of the entire village. He was our hope for his children and no humanity in the world allows this kind of murder.
On Wednesday, police spokesman said that terrorists fired upon & critically injured one person identified as Raju Shah resident of Bihar at Jablipora Bijbehera, Anantnag. He was evacuated to hospital for treatment and later succumbed to injuries.
Soon after the attack, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area to trace the terrorists behind the attack.
Meanwhile, the police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. The investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime.