Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 18: In a major success, security forces today eliminated top leadership of Lashkar-e-Toiba including nephew of its Pakistan based operational chief, Zaikur-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, in a swift operation while an Indian Air Force (IAF) Garud commando was also killed in the operation.
This is the most successful operation of the security forces this year in which six militants including Usama Jangi, nephew of Lashkar-e-Toiba operational chief Zaikur-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, were killed in a fierce gun battle at Hajin area of Bandipora district in North Kashmir.
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Army’s Srinagar based Defence spokesman said here that a joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon following specific inputs about presence of some militants at Chandergeer in Hajin. As the combing operation was launched, the hiding militants opened fire upon them triggering an encounter in which one IAF Garud commando was killed and one soldier was injured.
The Defence spokesman said that two soldiers including an IAF Garud commando suffered injuries in the encounter and were hospitalized. However, the IAF Garud commando succumbed to injuries in the military hospital. He has been identified as JP Narula. His unit is based in Chandigarh but he was here in Bandipora for counter-militancy operations.
The killed include LeT commanders Abu Zargam and Mehmood Bhai and all the six militants are Pakistani nationals. Mehmood Bhai was divisional commander of the LeT and Zargam operation commander. The other militants have been identified as Abu Kital, Abu Mavia and Amar.
The LeT group was involved in the killing of a BSF man last month in the area who had come home on leave.
A civilian Ashiq Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohammad received a bullet wound in his leg and was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where from he was referred to JVC hospital Srinagar for specialised treatment.
During the encounter, clashes erupted in the area between locals and security forces. The internet services in Bandipora district have been suspended as a precautionary measure, an official said.
Earlier, curfew like restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar and schools and colleges were closed as precautionary measure to prevent violence after killing of militant commander Mugees Mir who was shot dead in Srinagar yesterday.
Curfew like restrictions were imposed in eight police station areas of Srinagar which included Parimpora, Maisuma, Kralkhud, MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar. All the educational institutes remained closed in Srinagar on Government directions. The authorities have also snapped 3G and 4G mobile internet services in the city.
In the meantime, separatist Hurriyat Conference has called for strike tomorrow against the killings of militants in Hajin area of Bandipora.
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