Researcher-turned-terrorist killed in clash with security forces in J&K

Mannan Bashir Wani, a PhD scholar-turned-top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed on Thursday, 10 months after he dropped out of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to join terrorist ranks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mannan Wani alias Abu Hamza, 26, was killed along with his associate in a clash with security forces at Shartgund Bala area of Qalamabad in Handwara area of North Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Police said that they had launched a cordon and search operation at Shartgund Bala area in the wee hours of Thursday based on specific intelligence inputs.

"During the searches, the terrorists, who were hiding, fired on the search party. The forces retaliated, leading to a clash. Consequently the civilians in the nearby areas were evacuated. In addition, following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), attempts were made to let the terrorists surrender, but they did not," said a police spokesman.

According to police, two terrorists were eliminated in the ensuing encounter. They added that there was no collateral damage. Police later identified the duo as Mannan Bashir Wani of Tiki Pora, Sogam and Ashiq Hussain Zargar of Tulwari Langate.

Coming from an affluent family, Mannan was pursuing PhD in applied Geology from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) before becoming a terrorist in January this year. His father had lodged a report in the police station claiming that his son had gone missing from the University on January 3. Two days later his picture brandishing an AK 47 rifle went viral on social media. Mannan was seen raising his index finger signalling oneness of Allah, a usual trait of Jihadists in Kashmir.

Considered a good student who equally excelled in academics and sports, Mannan was pursuing PhD on 'Structural and Geo-Morphological Study of Lolab Valley, Kashmir'. He had also received an award for the best paper presented at an international conference on 'Water, Environment, Ecology and Society' in 2016.

During his stint as a terrorist, Mannan had written an article for a news portal in Srinagar evoking a sharp reaction from the police which immediately lodged an FIR against the website.

Mannan is the second PhD scholar-turned-terrorist who was killed by the security forces this year so far. On May 6, Dr Mohammad Rafi Bhat, an assistant professor of Sociology at University of Kashmir, was killed along with four other terrorists at Badigam village in South Kashmir's Shopian district.

Hours after police confirmed Mannan's death, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, "Today a PhD scholar chose death over life & was killed in an encounter. His death is entirely our loss as we are losing young educated boys every day. It is high time that all the political parties in the country realise the gravity of this situation and try to facilitate a solution through dialogue with all the stake holders including Pakistan to end this bloodshed."

Joint Resistance Leadership of Separatists called for Kashmir bandh of Friday to pay homage to the slain terrorist. Hizbul Mujahideen said, "Every drop of Mannan's blood will produce thousands of freedom loving terrorists."

Meanwhile, a Hurriyat Conference activist was killed by suspected militants at at Meemandar area of Shopian district.

Police said terrorists this afternoon shot at and critically injured Tariq Ahmad Ganie. "The individual was evacuated to nearby hospital for medical attention, however he succumbed to his injuries", he said.

MANNAN’S PROFILE

• Mannan Bashir Wani was pursuing PhD on ‘Structural and Geo-Morphological Study of Lolab Valley, Kashmir’. 
   
• He had also received an award for the best paper presented at an international conference on ‘Water, Environment, Ecology and Society’ in 2016.