18 youth rounded up in nocturnal raids
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: Security forces today achieved a major success by killing two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in a fierce encounter in Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district while their associate managed to flee in injured condition. These militants were involved in the killing of several civilians in the area during last some months and were most wanted.
Security forces today cordoned off Par Mohalla area of Hajin in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after specific information about presence of LeT militants hiding in the village. As the security forces were conducting searches, militants hiding in the village fired on the troops, leading to an encounter.
Two militants of the LeT were killed in the gun battle that lasted for several hours. Bodies of two foreign militants-Rizwan alias Jindaal and Ali alias Maaz were recovered from the debris of the house where they were hiding while as third militant, who was injured last month during an encounter, managed to flee.
Huge quantity of arms and ammunition including rifles, magazines, pouches etc and incriminating material were recovered from the site of encounter. These militants were involved in several civilian killings in the area during last few months. They were most wanted in the area and police had registered several cases against them.
Amid the encounter in the area, residents took to streets and resorted to stone pelting to disrupt the operation. They clashed with troops after the encounter by pelting stones and security forces fired tear gas to disperse them. Five protesters were injured during the clashes in Par Mohalla and adjacent areas.
A police spokesman said: “From the incriminating material seized from the site of encounter, it is learnt that both the killed terrorists were foreigners from Pakistan and involved in several attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities in the area”.
And security forces last night detained 18 youth during searches in several villages of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Security forces picked up 10 youth during a night long search operation in Murran area of Pulwama. The security forces also detained eight youth during searches in the villages of Gudoora, Wapora and Gudibugh. Five youth from Gudoora, two from Wapora and one from Gudibugh were also detained during the raids.
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