Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 9: In a major success against the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), security forces today gunned down its top commander and mastermind behind last year’s attack in Udhampur on a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy, Abu Ukasha, and his associate while LeT divisional commander, Abu Dujana, along with 9 other LeT militants managed to escape from the cordon.
After a specific input received by the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Srinagar, about presence of 11 militants including top leadership of LeT, security forces this afternoon launched searches at Chandipora, Goripora and Wadhakpora villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
A top police officer said that they had information about the presence of 11 militants of LeT who had a meeting in the area. As they were holding the meeting in the Agriculture farm in Wadhakpora in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, security forces laid the cordon and conducted searches during which gun battle broke out that lasted for several hours.
Security forces cordoned off vast area and had a fierce gun battle with the LeT militants at Wadhakpora in Awantipora area in which two militants were killed. They have been identified as Abu Ukasha and Abu Hafiz. They also recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and two pouches from their possession.
Large number of security forces took part in the operation as the area is vast and has bushes as well. Besides SOG Srinagar, those who were part of the operation include 10 Para, 50, 42 and 55 Rashtirya Rifles of Army, 185, 110 and 18th battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), SOG Awantipora and Pulwama.
Abu Ukasha was one of the most wanted militants in Kashmir and National Investigating Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head for his involvement in Udhampur attack. He was part of the three militants who carried out the attack in Udhampur on BSF convoy last year. One of his associates, Mohammad Noaman was killed and Mohammad Naveed was arrested in Udhampur but Abu Ukasha managed to return to his base in South Kashmir.
As the security forces were engaged in the gun battle with the two LeT militants, 9 other LeT militants including divisional commander of the LeT, Abu Dujana managed to slip out of the cordon, taking advantage of dense vegetation and bushes in the area.
Meanwhile, SOG Srinagar and Army today cordoned off Wanihama village of Ganderbal district in the outskirts of Srinagar. SOG Srinagar received a tip off about the presence of two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in Wanihama and cordoned off the area.
As the searches were underway, militants opened firing on police leading to a brief gun battle. However, militants managed to escape from the spot leaving behind one AK 47 rifle and few rounds.
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