Kashmir Youths wave Pakistani and ISIS flag outside Jamia Mosque, pelted stones

In Srinagar, some unknown youths wore masks and targeted the security forces by pelting stones at them outside Jamia Masjid after which, they waved the flags of the Islamic State and Pakistan.

The stone pelters came to the streets after the weekly congregational prayers in the Nowhatta area of Jammu and Kashmir’s capital and then a fight broke between the security forces and youth.

It has been learnt that the youth were chanting anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans as they pelted stones. Reports suggest that the paramilitary forces along with state police have been deployed.

Previously on Friday, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Abdulla bhai, a close-aide of Zakir Moosa was murdered in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police added.

Arms and ammunition were retrieved from the encounter spot, a police spokesman added.

According to the sources, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi (aka Abdulla bhai) was a commander of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), an IS-inspired module, with Zakir Moosa as its chief.

Ishfaq was known to be the sole survivor of the terror outfit in Kashmir.

Sources also added that Ishafq Sofi joined Harkat-ul Mujahideen (HuM) in 2015, but then decided to join ISJK in 2016.

Zakir Moosa who is in the most-wanted list, however, continues to escape security forces. Previously, there were widespread speculations of Zakir Moosa hiding in Punjab.

Security agencies were alerted in Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab after intelligence reports that there is a huge possibility that terrorist Zakir Moosa could be hiding in the area.

Zakir took over Burhan Wani as the chief of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen in the wake of Wani’s demise in a fierce encounter with security forces in Kashmir in July 2016.

He then went on to lead terrorist organisation Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) which is a cell of Al-Qaeda, in Kashmir valley and was known to be linked with global terror group.

(With ANI inputs)