IGP calls the killing of LeT commander a big success
Pulwama, July 2: In an overnight encounter, at least five militants and a soldier were killed on Friday. The encounter had started on late Thursday night.
Police said that the slain militants were affiliated with banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. They said one among the slain militant is a top commander.
The gunfight had raged at Hanjin village of Pulwama after Joint Forces cordoned it off and launched a search operation. Militants who were present in a house, fired up the searching party, that led to a gunfight.
In the initial exchange of fire, a militant and a soldier were killed. The deceased soldier from 44 RR identified as Hawaldar Kashinath was evacuated to Srinagar based Army hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
After the fierce exchange of fire, additional forces were sent to the spot. During intermittent firing five militants were killed in the encounter. Four of the slain militants were related to Lashkar-e-Taiba and one is of Pakistani origin.
According to the police, the slain militants have been identified as Danish Manzoor (Pulwama), Rehan (Pakistan), Nishaz Hussain Lone alias Khitaab (Tral), and Amir Wagya (Hanjan Payeen). One militant could not be identified.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar informed, that among the militants killed, Nishaz Lone was a District Commander of proscribed militant outfit LeT and has been neutralized in this encounter operation.
At least 63 militants have been killed so far in this current year. In April at least 7 militants including AuGH (Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind) Chief were killed in two different gun battles in South Kashmir’s Shopian (5) and Tral (2) on the same day. Today five militants were killed in a major encounter. (KNT)
