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Ultras involved in martyring cops won’t be spared
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including a district commander were killed and an Army jawan martyred in an encounter between the ultras and the security forces in Pulwama district on Friday, police said.
A police spokesperson said a cordon-and-search operation was launched in the Hanjin Rajpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama late Thursday night acting on a specific input regarding the presence of ultras there.
During the search operation, civilians were evacuated to safer places, and after the presence of terrorists was ascertained, they were given an opportunity to surrender, the spokesman said.
But they opened indiscriminate fire on the search party instead, following which the security personnel retailed and a gunfight ensued, the official added. The operation was suspended due to darkness, but the cordon remained intact throughout the night, he said.
“Today (Friday) in the morning, repeated announcements were again made to the hiding terrorists to surrender, but they fired on the joint search party and the fire was retaliated,” the spokesman said.
In the initial exchange of fire, two Army jawans received gunshot injuries and were taken to a hospital, he said, adding that one of them attained martyrdom.
During the ensuing encounter, five terrorists were killed and their bodies retrieved, the spokesman said.
The slain ultras were affiliated with the LeT, and one of them, Nishaz Lone alias Khitab, was the district commander of the outfit, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said.
The others are Danish Manzoor Shiekh of Sathergund Kakapora, Amir Wagay of Hanjan Payeen, Mehran Manzoor of Jamalatoo, Srinagar, and Abu Rehan, alias Tawheed, of Pakistan, the official said.
He said all of them were linked with the proscribed outfit LeT.
“As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in many terror crime cases and civilian atrocities,” the official added.
Arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.
The spokesman said an SLR rifle which belonged to the police and was snatched by militants in 2016 was also recovered from the site.
All recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes, he said.
Kumar said the operation was a “big success” for the forces.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said has asserted that terrorists involved in the killing of police personnel will not be spared, adding that his force, together with other security agencies, is working for a peaceful environment in the Union Territory.
The DGP was speaking at an attestation-cum-passing out parade of two probationary deputy superintendents of police, 28 sub-inspectors and 508 recruit constables of the 27th Basic Recruitment Training Course (BRTC) at the S P S Police Training School in Kathua district.
Singh congratulated the trainee officers and personnel for successfully completing their course.
“I trust and believe that you becoming a part of J&K Police will boost the spirit and provide more power to the already best acknowledged force of the country,” the DGP said.
He said these trainees had the privilege of serving the civil society and the people prior to completing their course due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The experience gained in advance will help them in doing their duties now professionally,” Singh said.
The DGP paid homage to all the police personnel who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation, saying, “It is because of the sacrifices of our brave martyrs that J&K Police is known as one of best forces in the country.”
Referring to the killing of inspector Parvaiz Ahmad Dar and SPO Fayaz Ahmad in the Valley last month, Singh said the terrorists involved would not be spared.
“The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Central Armed Police Force and the Army is taking every positive step to root out terrorism from J-K,” he said.
He said various welfare measures are in place for the families of slain police personnel.
Around Rs 100 crore has been spent on different welfare schemes during the last one year or so and these funds have been mobilised by our own contributions , the DGP added.