Massive search operation continues for second day in Rajouri
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar/RAJOURI: A terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district on Saturday and another escaped cordon but was arrested in Pulwama, officials said, adding that a policeman was martyred in Kulgam district while massive search operation continues for second day in Rajouri.
Acting on a specific information, generated by Budgam Police about presence of terrorists in Mochwa Chadoora area of Budgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 181BN CRPF in the area, a police spokesperson said.
During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender. However, instead of surrendering they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist of proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Shakir Bashir Dar, son of Bashir Ahmad Da,r resident of Goripora, Awantipora”, the spokesperson added.
As per police records, the killed terrorist was part of groups involved in various terror crime cases and several terror crime cases were registered against him. Shakir Bashir was earlier working as a terrorist associate with proscribed terror outfit LeT and joined terror folds of proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr recently. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-rifle with 02 Magazines, 32 rounds, 1 Chinese pistol with 02 Magazines, 16 rounds, 01 Bagpack and 01 Pouch were recovered from the site of encounter.
While the operation was in progress, another terrorist managed to escape from the encounter site and the information was shared with Awantipora Police, the spokesperson said adding that while developing the lead Awantipora Police further launched a cordon and search operation in Mantaqi Colony Khrew area along with 50RR and 185BN CRPF. During search, the escaped terrorist was tracked down and arrested while hiding in a truck bearing registration No. JK13-2397. He has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Najar, resident of Wuyan Khrew, linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. The driver of the truck identified as Mohd Shafi Dar, resident of Gratwani Mohalla Khrew has also been arrested. The truck been seized. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 Chinese Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine, 07 Pistol rounds, 02 AK-Magazines, 50 AK-rounds, 01 Chinese grenade, 5Kgs IED, which was destroyed on spot, were also recovered from the site. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated joint teams of police and security forces for showing the exemplary coordination in conducting successful operation in professional manner without any collateral damage and tracking down the escaped terrorist. The IGP appealed to parents of newly recruited terrorists to bring their children back to mainstream.
Meanwhile, at about 1920hrs, terrorists fired indiscriminately upon a Police Party at Poshwan area of DH Pora in district Kulgam in which one police personnel attained martyrdom and two other personnel got injured.
Preliminary investigation reveals that, a group of terrorists fired upon a police party headed by SHO Police Station DH Pora who were busy in managing the traffic at Adijan Crossing while on their way back after providing safe passage to Ab Majid Padar (PP) upto his residence. In this terror incident, three police personnel sustained gunshot injuries and were evacuated to hospital for medical treatment.
However, Ct Nisar Ahmad succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom. We pay our rich tributes to the martyr who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
It is pertinent to mention that taking undue advantage of huge traffic jam and presence of large number of civilians, the terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the SHO and his escort party and managed to escape from the spot. However, to avoid collateral damage in view of huge rush, the police party exercised maximum restraint. Both the injured personnel are stable and have been discharged from hospital after medical treatment.
Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this terror crime. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on.
Meanwhile, a massive search operation continued for the second day on in a dense forest area in Rajouri district where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter by security forces, officials said.
The joint operation by the police and the army in remote Pangai village, located in a forested area of Thanamandi, was launched early Friday following information about the presence of three to four terrorists, including two foreign nationals, there.
The operation is going on but no fresh contact was established with the suspected terrorists believed to be holed up in the dense forest, an Army official said.
Two LeT terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight in the forest area on Friday and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from them, they said.
The bodies of both the terrorists were removed to a local hospital where their post-mortem was conducted on Saturday, the officials said, adding the identity of the deceased is still awaited but they are most likely from Pakistan.