Srinagar, : Five local Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed in a joint operation with police and Army in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.
“Acting on specific information regarding presence of terrorists in village Samno, DH Pora area of district Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched yesterday by Kulgam Police and Army (34 RR) in the area,” Deputy Inspector General of Police South Kashmir Rayees Mohammad Bhat (IPS) while briefing the media about the Kulgam operation which had ensued on Thursday last.
During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, he said, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. Later on, he said, CRPF (18BN) also joined the anti-militancy operation. However, due to darkness the operation was kept on hold till early morning, he said. “The cordon remained intact throughout the night & with the help of additional reinforcement the cordoned area was further strengthened.”
With the first light Friday, he said, the operation was resumed, which resulted in the killing of five militants. They have been identified as Yasir Bilal Bhat alias Humais son of Bilal Ahmad Bhat resident of KG Raina Wanpoh, Danish Hameed Thoker son of Abdul Hameed, Ubaid Ahmad Padder son of Wali Mohammad Padder, both residents of Chakoora Shopian, Sameer Farooq Sheikh son of Farooq Ahmad resident of Chak Cholend Shopian and Hanzal Yaqoob Shah alias Hanzilla son of Mohammad Yaqoob Shah of Rawalpora Shopian. All the killed militants were linked with LeT/TRF, he said.
“As per the police records, the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. They were also involved in number of attacks on minority pickets.”
Sameer Farooq and Danish Hameed, he said, were involved in attack on a Kashmiri Pandith Sonu Bhat of Chotigam, Shopian. “Danish Hameed alongwith Hanzal Yaqoob Shah were also involved in attack on outside labourers at Gagren, Shopian on 13/07/2023, in which 03 outside labourers got injured.”
Sameer Farooq Sheikh, he said, was also involved in instigating and luring local youth to join militant ranks besides was involved in attack on minority picket at Heepora Batagund, Shopian.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 04 AK-series rifles, 04 Grenades and 02 Pistols were recovered from the site of encounter,” he said, adding, “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”(GNS)
