Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 15: Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and a minor girl were killed while another minor boy and a policeman were injured in a fierce gun battle at Hyhama area of Kupwara district of North Kashmir today.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain, told Excelsior that three militants of LeT were killed in gun battle at Jagityal Kulnard area of Kupwara this morning. He identified three militants as Abu Mala, Anas Bhai and Abu Mansoor and said all of them were Pakistani nationals.
The SSP said that these militants were active in Kralpora, Dardpora, Marhama, Awoora and its adjacent areas for last one year. He said that they had infiltrated last year and were part of reception party of LeT.
Hussain said that they were receiving infiltrated militants from Keran and Tangdhar sectors and providing them logistic support before launching them to Kashmir valley.
The SSP said that the police was tracking them for last one week and after receiving specific input about their presence in a house in Jagityal Kulnard last night, police along with 41 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army and 98 CRPF conducted an operation.
The security forces fired at the house in which the militants were trapped leading to a gun battle during which the house caught fire and the militants tried to flee. One of the militants was killed inside the house and one was killed while fleeing out of the house early morning.
However, one of them took position in a nallah outside the house and it took around two hours for the security forces to neutralize him. Three AK-47 rifles, six hand grenades, one GPS, one wireless set, six magazines and large quantity of ammunition was recovered from them.
A minor girl identified as Kaneeza and a minor boy Faisal were injured when they were hit by bullets during the encounter. Girl Kaneeza succumbed to her injuries and boy was shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
A police constable identified as Danish Ahmad was also injured in the encounter. He was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment.
A Police spokesman said that acting on a specific information, Kupwara Police along with 41 RR, and 98 CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Jugtiyal, Hyhama in Kupwara.
“During the searches, militants present in the area fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter. Three LeT militants were killed in this encounter”, he said.
“One police constable identified as Danish Ahmad was also injured in the encounter. He was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment. A minor girl namely Kaneeza and a minor boy Faisal were injured after they were hit by stray bullets more than 100 meters away from the encounter site. They were shifted to hospital for treatment where the girl succumbed to her injuries. The boy has been referred to Srinagar and his condition is stable so far”, he said.
Militants tonight hurled a grenade on District Police Lines Pulwama. However, no damage was done. Police and security forces immediately cordoned off the area and the searches are on for the militants responsible for the attack.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
