Police gun down dreaded militant Abass Sheikh, ends his over two decades reign of terror

Srinagar, Aug 23 (PTI) From being a school dropout to becoming one of most wanted terrorists in Valley, Mohamm Abass Sheikh met his fate on Monday when he along with his close associate fell to bullets of police in a gunfight here, ending his over two deces reign of terror.

Sheikh (45), a resident of Rampora vill of Qaimoh in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, was operational chief commander of Resistance Force (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and his killing is being considered as one of biggest successes of security forces.

Earlier, two of his brors -- both terrorists affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit – were killed by security forces in separate encounters in south Kashmir.

Among top 10 terrorist commanders of Valley, Sheikh along with his deputy, Saqib Manzoor, were killed in a brief shootout with police personnel at Aloochi Bagh locality of city.

Arrested on several occasions in past, Sheikh got into militancy every time after coming out of jail. He has carried out a number of sensational attacks including in Srinagar city and its outskirts in recent past and among se were targeted killing of policemen.

Security officials said though he h been sent to school, Sheikh, born in 1975, did t show interest in studies and gave up education at an early st.

Growing up, he started working as a tailor at Qaimoh but his elder bror Mohamm Ibrahim joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 1992 and became a dreed terrorist, y said.

Ibrahim was killed in an encounter with security forces in 1996 at Redwani vill of Kulgamm, officials said.

"This gave an alarming boost to sentiments of Sheikh and he indulged in militancy, though he was married at this st and far of a child. His or bror, Mohamm Ashraf Sheikh (Molvi), also affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit got killed in an encounter at Thokerpora Qaimoh," an official said.

In 2002, Sheikh was deputed to Srinagar by Hizbul Mujahideen under directions of self-styled supreme commander Salahudin to get details of actions carried out by outfit published in print media.

However, he was arrested by BSF at Lal Chowk here along with arms and ammunition two years later and a case was registered against him, officials said.

He was detained under Public Safety Act and lodged in Kot Bilwal Jail in Jammu, but after his release he again got in terrorism in 2005.

officials said he was expelled by Hizbul Mujahideen in 2007 for some reason and he joined Jash-e-Mohamm, but was again arrested in 2014.

After his release in 2015, he again joined Hizbul Mujahideen, y said.

Sheikh was also arrested in October 2007 when he along with his associate Abdul Majeen was trying to hurl a grene on security forces near a petrol pump in Qaimoh, officials said.

y said Sheikh was named in over two dozen terrorism-related cases in Kashmir, including several sensational attacks in Srinagar this year.

major terror attacks carried out by him included an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Subhanpora locality of Shamsipora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on January 27, resulting in death of an army jawan and injuries to three ors.

On February 19, he along with his associates shot de two policemen near Bhagat Chowk on Srinagar-airport ro and on March 25 led an attack on a ro opening party of CRPF at Lawaypora on outskirts of Srinagar, killing two of force's personnel.

Sheikh and his associates shot de a police inspector at wgam in Srinagar on June 22, injured seven persons, including five CRPF jawans, in a grene attack at Nawabazar area of Srinagar on May 7, shot de a policeman at Saidpora locality of Srinagar on June 17 and killed a mobile shop owner at Habbakal in Srinagar on June 23, officials said.

Sheikh and his or associates also killed a policeman and injured two ors at ijan crossing in Kulgam district on August 7, y said.

officials said he h a long list of cases filed against him in different police stations between 2006 and 2021 in Kulgam and or districts related to terror atrocities including attacks on civilians, government officials and security forces. PTI SKL ANB ANB