Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 25: A militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed while another slipped out of cordon in Central Kashmir district of Budgam during the night while massive operation launched against militants in Kupwara forests continued.
Security forces last night received information about presence of militants of LeT in Khan Mohalla Arizal and a joint team of Budgam Police, 53 RR of Army and CRPF cordoned off the area. Militants hiding inside tried to flee from the cordon leading to a gun battle in which one militant was killed while another managed to escape. A girl Humaira daughter of Mohammad Maqbool Khan was also injured in the gunfight.
The killed militant has been identified as Shafat Hussain Wani son of Mohammad Akbar Wani, a resident of Wagoora, Kreeri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. One AK-47, 2 grenades, 4 magazines, AK rounds and one cell phone were recovered from the encounter site.
Shafat, had done BA BEd but joined militancy last year. He was running a grocery shop in his native village before he joined militancy. He was also working as teacher in a private educational institute before joining militant ranks.
As large number of people attended the funeral of the militant, police and CRPF were heavily deployed in Wagoora area as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order problem.
Meanwhile, authorities suspended internet services in parts of Baramulla soon after news of Shafat’s killing spread.
A police spokesman said here that on specific input regarding presence of militants Budgam police, 53 RR of Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Khan Mohalla, Arizal in Beerwah area.
“During search, terrorists tried to flee and came out of house and fired indiscriminately on security forces. In retaliation one terrorist has been neutralized and arms and ammunition have been recovered”, he said.
“In the incident one lady received injury in thigh while the hiding terrorist was trying to escape firing indiscriminately. She has been promptly evacuated to hospital by the police for medical treatment and her condition is now reported to be stable. No collateral damage has occurred during operation. Legal proceedings have been initiated by police and investigation taken up”, the spokesman added.
Police identified the killed militant as Shafat Hussain Wani son of Mohd Akbar Wani resident of Wagoora Baramulla. “He was affiliated with the outlawed terror organisation LeT since April 2017. Earlier at the encounter site incriminating materials including but not limited to arms and ammunition, mobile phones, cash worth Rs 30000 have been recovered”, the spokesman added.
And in the meantime, security forces launched operation in Halmatpora forests of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district yesterday, continued today.
A joint team of Army’s 41 RR and SOG this afternoon launched searches in the upper reaches of the forest area – adjacent to Check Fathekhan of Haihama- which connects Gulgam and Awoora forest areas.
Army’s 5 Bihar and 4 Para has also launched a search operation in the peripheries of Haihama forests and its neighbouring forest areas including Gulgam and Awoora.
Massive search operations are going on in these areas to track down the two fleeing militants who were part of the group when it was intercepted at Check Fatehkhan of Halmatpora on March 20.
Five militants, three Army soldiers and two SOG personnel were killed in the operation that lasted for three-days.
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