isis flag
An Islamic State flagReuters

The Amaq news agency — the media outlet linked to the Islamic State group (ISIS) — has claimed that the militant outfit carried out an attack in the Zakura area of Srinagar on November 17.

According to the statement by Amaq, ISIS has said it killed a police officer during an encounter in Zakura on Friday.

The encounter in question also saw the death of a terrorist who has been identified as Mugees Ahmad Mir. A police sub-inspector called Imran Tak was martyred in the attack. An SPO was also injured during the gunbattle.

The ISIS-linked news agency on Saturday said the terror outfit had claimed responsibility for Tak's death.

Attack or propaganda?

However, reports claimed that the slain terrorist was a member of the Zakir Musa group, which is linked to the al-Qaeda outfit in Kashmir.

The police are trying to determine whether the statement by Amaq was ISIS propoaganda whether Mir was really a member of Musa's outfit.

"It is yet to be verified, I don't think ISIS has any imprints here," said DGP SP Vaid.

Zakir Musa
Zakir MusaTwitter

Keeping this fact in mind, and that Kashmiri youths have been seen hoisting ISIS flags and raising pro-ISIS slogans, an attack by this terrorist outfit cannot be ruled out.