Arjumand Wani
Kulgam, Nov. 17: Five militants were killed in an encounter that broke out in South Kashmir’s Samno village of Kulgam district, officials said on Thursday evening.
Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Kashmir
Rayees Bhat as per Kashmir Despatch Correspondent termed this operation a big success.
He said the terrorists were involved in attacks on minorities, including an attack carried out in April last year in which a minority community member, Sonu Bhat, was targeted in Shopian. They were also involved in an attack on non-local laborers at Gagran village in Shopian.
The militants have been identified as Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Chak Chollen in Shopian district. He had joined the militant cadre in August 2021. Danish Ahmad Thokar and Ubaid Ahmad Padder, both hailing from Chakoora village in Shopian, have been active since March and September 2022, respectively. Yasir Bilal, a local of Wanpoh village in Kulgam, has been active since May 2022, and Hanzullah Yaqoob Shah, a resident of the Rawalpora area of Shopian, joined the militant group TRF in July this year.
The top police officer emphasized the substantial impact of neutralizing these terrorists on the region’s terror infrastructure. He expressed confidence that the success achieved marks a significant setback for terrorist activities, with more victories anticipated in the ongoing efforts to ensure peace and security.
Army Brigadier Anirudh Chouhan reported that the terrorists, affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba, were eliminated during the operation. The security forces seized a significant cache of warlike stores, including four AK-47 rifles, two pistols, four grenades, and various incriminating materials.
During the press conference,
Army Brigadier Anirudh Chouhan said that the terrorists, affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba, were eliminated during the operation. The security forces seized a significant cache of warlike stores, including four AK-47 rifles, two pistols, four grenades, and various incriminating materials.
The gunfight in Kulgam is seen as one of the major anti-militancy operations carried out in the region this year. At least 65 militants have been killed across Jammu and Kashmir, including around a dozen and a half killed in the south of the Pir Panjal Range.
