Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Jul 08 : With the killing of six more militants in three separate gunfights, the toll of killing militants rose to 7 in the last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that in the wee hours of Thursday four militants were killed in two separate gunfights in southern region of Kashmir.
The official said in one of the encounter that broke out in South Kashmir’s Pulwama in which two militants were killed, while two other militants were slain in Kulgam gunfight.
As per police statement issued to Kashmir Despatch reads, at Zodar area of Kulgam, a joint team of Anantnag based Rashtriya Rifles, JKP and CRPF launched multiple mobile vehicle check points on receiving inputs regarding movement of militants in the area.
“At around 3 am, a white Maruti Car was asked to stop for checking. The militants on seeing the troops started firing and ran towards adjoining forest area. The area was immediately cordoned off and fire fight ensued. In the joint operation two militants, Shahbaz Ahmad Shah of JeM active since 11 July 2020 and Nasir Ayub Pandit of LeT active since 05 Jun 21, were killed. One AK-47 and one pistol with large quantity of ammunition was recovered.
As per the statement, in a separate operation, based on specific intelligence of JKP, troops of Panzgom based Rashtriya Rifles, JKP & CRPF laid cordon around a built-up area in Puchhal, Pulwama. “At around 3 am, militants lobbed grenades on the cordon party and tried to escape. However, alert troops immediately retaliated and foiled the escape bid. Call for surrender was made but militants retaliated by firing and lobbing grenades at the security forces.”
The statement reads that in the ensuing gunfight, two militants of LeT were killed and they have been identified as Kifayat Sofi and Inayat Ahmad Dar of Pulwama district. “One AK-47 and one pistol and other war like stores were recovered from the encounter site.”
It said that according to the Police all of these militants were involved in threatening the civilian population and extortion of money.
Pertinent to mention here on Wednesday a top most militant commander was killed in a gunfight at Handwara village of North Kashmir’s Kupwara.
In a tweet police has said that the slain was one of the oldest surviving militant in the north Kashmir and has identified him as Mehraj ul Din Halwai alais Ubaid a resident of Sopore town.
As per police records the slain militant was involved in several terror crimes in the district.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar Thursday said that two slain militants killed in Kulgam encounter belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and they were planning a big strike on national highway.
He said that all four-militants killed in Kulgam and Pulwama belonged to LeT and all were locals. Talking to reporters, IGP said that two slain militants killed in Kulgam area were locals and were planning a big strike on the national highway. “The encounter took place in an area close to the highway and they were planning an attack on the national highway. Two more militants killed in a gunfight at Pulwama were also locals,” the IGP said.
He said police and security forces received specific leads about presence of militants in Pulwama and Kulgam late night yesterday after joint teams of police and security forces launched operations in both districts,” the IGP said.
Meanwhile, in another gunfight, two militants and as many as soldiers were killed while an army personnel was injured in a gunfight near the Line of Control in Suderbani sector of Rajouri, official sources said on Thursday.
They said that there was gunfight between infiltrating militants and army in the Suderbani sector in the district in which two unidentified militant and as many soldiers were killed while one trooper was injured. One of the slain soldiers has been identified as Sepoy Yashwant Reddy of 17 Madras, the official sources said.
Meanwhile, Army in a statement issued to Kashmir Despatch said based on information regarding infiltration and movement of terrorists in the area of Dadal, Sundarbani Sector, District Rajouri (J&K), Army had launched extensive search operations with effect from 29 Jun 2021.
Subsequently, the information was corroborated on 08 Jul 2021 and a search and destroy patrol seeking pro active engagement with the militants, spotted the militants in Dadal forest area, and challenged them.
The militants opened fire and lobbed hand grenades leading to a fierce encounter in which two foreign militants from Pakistan have been killed.
Two AK-47 Rifles and ammunition in heavy quantity has been recovered from the terrorists. In the operation, Nb Sub Sreejith M and Sep Maruprolu Jaswanth Reddy received fatal injuries. A detailed search of the area continues. (With inputs from GNS, KNO)
