STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, involved in the recent killing of a sarpanch in Khonmoh, were killed in an encounter with security forces on the outskirts of the city here on Wednesday, police said.
Based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of terrorists in Nowgam area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and 50RR in the said area.
Pakistani handlers pushing terrorists to harm civilians, disturb peace: DGP
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said Pakistani handlers were pushing terrorists into the union territory to harm civilians and disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.
“Over the past two weeks, the evil designs of terrorists once again came to light when they targeted panches and sarpanches. The sinful acts of harming and killing innocent people evoked strong condemnation from all quarters,” the police chief told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kishtwar district.
The DGP, along with Additional DGP of Jammu Mukesh Singh, visited Kishtwar to inaugurate a cricket tournament being hosted by the police department in the memory of Deputy Superintendent of Police Aman Thakur who laid down his life in an encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir’s Kulgam in February 2019. Sarpanches Sameer Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Mir were killed in Srinagar and Kulgam districts on March 9 and March 11, respectively, while an independent panchayat member, Mohammad Yaqub Dar, was gunned down by terrorists in Kulgam on March 2.
“Pakistani handlers are pushing them (terrorists operating in J&K) to harm innocent people by targeted killings and grenade throwing. Two civilians, including a girl, were killed in one such grenade attack in Srinagar (on March 6), the police chief said.
On counter-terrorist operations, he said, “Over the past few days, we have carried out over half-a-dozen successful operations, including the one in Srinagar which resulted in the killing of three terrorists (on Wednesday). These three terrorists were involved in the killing of Kanmoh sarpanch (Bhat).”
Eleven terrorists have been killed in seven encounters in different parts of Kashmir Valley since March 10. While two militants were killed in Pulwama and Srinagar’s Hazratbal on March 10, three encounters in Pulwama, Ganderbal and Kupara left four terrorists dead and one more arrested. Another militant was killed in Pulwama on March 15.
The DGP said the culprits behind the killing of a sarpanch in Kulgam, a CRPF personnel in Shopian and an Army jawan in Budgam were also arrested.
CRPF jawan Mukthar Ahmad and soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla were killed by terrorists in Shopian and Budgam districts on March 12 and 10, respectively. Both of them had come home on leave when they were attacked by the terrorists.
“Those behind the killing of a sarpanch in Kulgam were arrested and the main terrorist was identified and is being chased. The module behind the CRPF jawan’s killing was busted and similarly, the culprits involved in the killing of army jawan were also arrested and the terrorist identified and he too will be neutralised, Singh said.
He said, The operations against terrorists will continue so that the people can live in a peaceful atmosphere and the killings at the hands of Pakistani terrorists and local terrorists at the behest of Pakistani agencies is stopped.
Asked about fear among Panchayati Raj Institution members in the wake of recent attacks, the DGP said there is no need to panic.
“Providing security to every individual is not possible everywhere but we are making efforts to provide a peaceful atmosphere through area security… We are providing security (to individuals) following intelligence input, he said.
During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. Later on CRPF also joined encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, three categorized terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Adil Nabi Teli resident of Galchibal Chandhara, Pampore, Shakir Ahmad Tantray resident of Ronipora Shopian and Yasir Ahmad Wagay resident of Kujer Frisal, Kulgam, the police said.
As per police records, the killed terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) and active since year 2021. They were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attack on Police/SF and civilian atrocities.
IGP Kashmir said that all the three killed terrorists were involved in the recent killing of Sarpanch Sameer Ahmad Bhat at Khanmoh Srinagar, adding, they used to carry out attacks on Panchayati Raj institution members and protected persons. Besides they were planning to attack on security forces on the NHW.
He termed the elimination of wanted terrorists as a big success and congratulated the joint forces for conducting successful anti-terrorist operation without any collateral damage.
Terrorist Adil Teli, along with his associates, was also involved in martyrdom of Inspector Pervaiz Ahmad Dar at Menganwari Nowgam on June 22, 2021, killing of Javaid Ahmed Malik at Lurgam Tral. Besides, he was also involved in grenade attack on joint party of Police and CRPF at Barbarshah Srinagar in which one civilian was killed and three civilians were injured.
Similarly, terrorists Shakir Ahmad and Yasir Ahmad were also involved in several terror crime cases including martyrdom of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near PS Bijbehara, Anantnag on December 22, 2021.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK rifle, 03 AK Magazines, 14 AK rounds, 02 Pistols, 04 Pistol Magazines, 06 Pistol rounds were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.