Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Sabzar Bhat sent out desperate messages to stone-pelters to help him when cornered by security forces

Srinagar/Jammu: Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat who was killed by the security forces May 27 at Soimoh village in Tral of Pulwama district, is said to have sent out desperate messages to stone-pelters to help him out when cornered, as per media reports.

Bhat had succeeded Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Wani was killed on July 8 last year in south Kashmir. His killing had sparked violence in the Kashmir Valley for months.

Bhat was gunned down during a cordon and search operation following specific information about the presence of terrorists there.

He was holed up inside a house and had opened fire at security personnel as they closed in on their hideout.

He was killed in retaliatory fire along with another militant.

Meanwhile, barring two incidents of stone-pelting, the situation today (Tuesday) was peaceful in Kashmir where curfew-like restrictions continued for the third consecutive day in the wake of killing of Bhat.

The curbs were in place in view of the separatists call for a march to Tral area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district today to pay tributes to Sabzar and his associate.

Incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Keller Chowk in Shopian district and Court Road Pinglish in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police spokesman said, as per PTI.

The security forces used force to disperse the aggressive mob, resulting in injuries to a stone-pelter and some security personnel.

The spokesman said the mob indulged in heavy stone- pelting on the security deployments at Pinglish but the forces used maximum restraint while dealing with the situation.

"Except these incidents, the overall situation across Kashmir remained peaceful and under control," he said.

Curfew-like restrictions were in place in the districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian all in south Kashmir, as also in seven police station areas of Srinagar and in Sopore township in north Kashmir, officials said.

In Srinagar, the curfew-like restrictions continued in the police station areas of Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma, all in old city.

The officials said restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc also continued in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir.

Incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Keller Chowk in Shopian district and Court Road Pinglish in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police spokesman said.

(With PTI inputs)