A Major Success for Security Forces Ahead of PM’s Kashmir Visit
Suhail Khan
Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir, security forces in the northern region achieved a major success by eliminating the top-most militant, along with his associate, in a gunfight on Wednesday.
Top official sources informed The Kashmir Despatch that the top-wanted militant Usman, along with his another foreign associate Umar, were killed in a gunfight in the Hadipora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
They said that a joint team of the Army’s 32 RR, SOG Sopore, and CRPF launched a joint operation following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
The official said that as soon as the searching party encircled the target house, the militants inside fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering a gunfight. However, in the ensuing anti-militancy operation that lasted for hours, two militants were killed, while in the initial exchange of fire, a soldier and a cop were injured.
The official said that both the injured soldier and cop were immediately taken to the MI Hospital for advanced treatment, and both are said to be stable.
This operation is termed a major success ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to Kashmir in the past three months.
The officials informed The Kashmir Despatch that with the killing of the top-most militant in the operation, this operation is termed one of the most successful and biggest achievements for the security forces, especially the lady officer handling the Sopore police belt.
Official sources further told The Kashmir Despatch that Usman, a Pakistani national was known for his expertise in improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The officials said that Usman had been a significant figure in the region, allegedly involved in several civilian killings and militant recruitment in the Tangmarg, Nowpora, and Kreeri areas of Baramulla district.
Described by the Jammu and Kashmir police as a major threat, Usman’s killing is being hailed as a significant victory.
“This is a massive success,” the official said, emphasizing Usman’s potential to cause future harm.
“His expertise in IEDs could have proved hazardous in the coming days.”
Pertinently, this was the second such successful anti-militancy operation in just two months in the Rafiabad belt, where earlier two militants were killed in Nowpora Sopore.
Meanwhile, In a joint press confrence Army, police said Over the past few weeks there has been constant information of the movement of a terrorist aroup in the Sopore-Raflabad area of Baramulla District.
On 19th June 2024,specific intelligence was received through JKP that two terrorists were holed up in a house in Hadipura village of Rafiabad area.
Consequently, Indian Army, JKP and CRPF launched a joint operation, swiftly cordoning off the area.Following standard procedures, civilians were safely evaCuated from adjacent houses and the area was secured.
The target house was thoroughly cordoned off and on the search being commenced, terrorists opened fire on the security forces. In the ensuingfirefight, two terrorists were neutralized.
The killed terrorists have been identified as Usman and Umar, both of Pakistan Origin and associated with LeT. Usman has been active in the Kashmir Valley since 2020.
Significant quantities of weapons and ammunition have been recovered after the operation.Elimination of these terrorists marks another major success for the security forces. Over the past few months, we have maintained a high operational tempo, resulting in some major achievements.
The success is also attributed to the complete cooperation of theKashmiri people.Security Forces will continue to make sustained efforts to maintain peace and stabiliting Kashmir.
