STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Four terrorists, including three from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Kulgam districts as some parts of the valley observed a shutdown to mark the fifth death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on Thursday.
Based on specific input about the presence of terrorists in the Puchal area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, CRPF and the Army on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, a police spokesperson said.
Army foils infiltration bid in Rajouri district
Two Pak terrorists eliminated; JCO, Jawan martyred
RAJOURI: The Army foiled a major infiltration bid on Thursday along the LoC in Rajouri district as they eliminated two Pakistani terrorists, while two soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer were martyred, in the fierce gun battle, officials said.
Based on information regarding infiltration and movement of terrorists in the area of Dadal in Sundarbani sector of Rajouri district, Army troops had launched extensive search operations, a defence spokesman said.
Subsequently, the information was corroborated on Thursday and a search-and-destroy patrol seeking proactive engagement with the terrorists spotted them in Dadal forest area, and challenged them, he said.
The terrorists opened fire and lobbed hand grenades, leading to a fierce encounter in which two terrorists from Pakistan have been killed, the spokesman said.
In the operation, Naib Sub Sreejith M and Sepoy Maruprolu Jaswanth Reddy received fatal injuries, he said, adding that both soldiers martyred while foiling the infiltration bid.
“During the search operation as the presence of terrorists was ascertained they were given repeated opportunities to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.
In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesperson said.
They have been identified as Kifayat Ramzan Sofi son of Mohammad Ramzan Sofi resident of Padgampora Awantipora, affiliated with the LeT, and and Inayat Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Ahad Dar resident of Samboora Pulwama affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr outfit. In Kulgam district, on credible inputs regarding the movement of terrorists on the National Highway, a joint check point was set up at Zadora-Qazigund.
“During naka checking, when a suspicious vehicle was signalled to stop by the Naka party, two terrorists who were boarding the vehicle came out from the vehicle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint Naka party. However, the alert party retaliated the fire effectively, leading to the elimination of two terrorists on the spot,” the spokesperson said.
The slain terrorists were identified as Nasir Ahmad Pandith, son of Mohd Ayoub, resident of Redwani Kulgam and Shahbaz Ahmad Shah, son of Ghulam Hassan Shah, resident of Katrusu Kulgam, both affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT
“During the last 12 hours, two encounters took place in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Kulgam districts in which four terrorists got killed,” the spokesman said.
“As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in various terror crimes regarding which several terror crime cases stand registered against them. Arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials were recovered from both the encounter sites,” he said.
Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar has congratulated the police and security forces for conducting successful operations in a professional manner without any collateral damage.
In this connection, police have registered cases under relevant sections of the law and investigations have been initiated.
The success for the security forces came on the fifth anniversary of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.