In a major success in the Valley, three terrorists affiliated with terror outfit Al-Badre were killed by the security forces in an encounter in the Hadipora area of the Shopian district, officials said on Sunday. The encounter between terrorists and security forces in Shopian broke out last night. A search operation is still underway. According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar, police and security forces made sincere efforts to take the surrender of the newly recruited terrorist but other terrorists did not allow him to surrender.
“ShopianEncounterUpdate: 02 more unidentified terrorists killed (toll 03). Search going on. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. “All three terrorists of Al-Badre killed in the Shopian encounter. Police and security forces made sincere efforts to take the surrender of the newly recruited terrorist. Parents also made appeals but other terrorists did not allow him to surrender,” the IGP Kashmir said. Further details are awaited.
ABOUT AL-BADRE
Al-Badr was constituted in September 1971 under the auspices of General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, then chief of the Pakistan Army eastern command. Members of Al-Badr were recruited from public schools and madrasas (religious schools). The unit was used for raids and special operations; the Pakistan army command initially planned to use the locally recruited militias (Al-Badr, Razakar, Al-Shams) for policing cities of East Pakistan, and regular army units to defend the border with India Most members of Al-Badr appear to have been Biharis.
Despite their similarities in opposing the independence of Bangladesh, the Razakar and Al-Badr had differences; Razakars opposed the Mukti Bahini in general, while Al-Badr’s tactics were terrorism and political killings. All three groups operated under Pakistani command.
