‘He Was Shot At Outside His Shop’ — Family Denies Man Hurt In J&K Gunbattle Is A Militant

The identity of a man injured in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Kashmir Wednesday became a subject of controversy as police claimed he was a militant, but his family denied the charge. Two militants and a CRPF constable were killed in the gunbattle, which took place in the morning on the outskirts of Srinagar. The injured man has been identified as Umar Fayaz. Police claimed Fayaz belonged to the lesser-known Jammu Kashmir Islamic State (JKIS), which has pledged allegiance to the West Asia-based terror group Islamic State. However, his family said he was just a shopkeeper. A statement issued by police in the evening didn’t name Fayaz, only saying that a “third militant” was injured in the gunbattle.