Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 1: Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter this morning in Sopore area of North Kashmir while security forces busted a Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) Over Ground Workers (OGWs) module in Bandipora.
Security forces cordoned off Nathipora village in Sopore in North Kashmir early today after they received information that two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were hiding in the house of one Khazir Mohammad Mir of Mir-Mohalla Nathipora, Sopore along with arms and ammunition.
As the security forces approached the house where the militants were hiding, they opened fire on the troops leading to a gun battle in which two militants were killed. Two Army personnel were also injured in the gun battle.
The two killed militants have been identified as Aijaz Ahmad Mir, resident of Brath, Sopore and Basharat Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Bomai, Sopore.
A police spokesman said that yesterday afternoon, militants lobbed a grenade on Police deployment near Treasury office (TP Bank) Sopore resulting in injuries to 4 police personnel, who were later shifted to Srinagar for treatment. Accordingly, a case FIR number 143/2017 was registered in police station Sopore and investigation was taken up.
“During investigation, it was learnt from reliable sources that two new recruited HM militants Mehraj-Ud-Din Mir son of Khazir Mohammad Mir and Mohammad Rafiq Lone alias Rafi son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone, residents of Nathipora Sopore were involved in the grenade attack. The duo have also been identified from the CCTV footage”, the spokesman said.
“It was also learnt that these new recruits were motivated by HM Commander Aijaz Mir resident of Brath Sopore and Basharat Ahmad Sheikh resident of Bomai, Sopore to join the militancy and intensify attacks on police and security forces”, the spokesman said.
Taking the lead about Ajaz and Basharat are hiding in Nathipora village, joint parties of Sopore Police, 22-RR, CRPF 92, 177 and 179 battalion and North Range QRT cordoned off the house in which militants were hiding at around 2.45 AM.
During search operation, the militants fired upon police and security forces and in retaliation both these militants got neutralized and two AK-47 rifles, 5 AK 47-magazines and two pouches were recovered from their possession.
These militants had joined the Hizb in March 2016 and June 2016 respectively. “Both were wanted in case FIR No. 128/2016 U/S 307, 302 RPC, 07/27 A. Act of Police Station Dangiwacha. Aijaz Ahmad Mir R/o Brath was also earlier booked in a murder case of FIR No. 95/2014 of Police Station Sopore. He was on bail, while Basharat had gone to Pakistan for training last year”, the spokesman said.
Sopore police and security forces have apprehended both the militants, who were involved in grenade attack on police deployment yesterday. Two pistols and 4 grenades have been recovered from the arrested militants.
Army said that significant aspect of the operation was the presence of Captain Eram Riyaz, a lady doctor of army who tirelessly administrated medical support at the encounter site helping two jawans injured with grenade splinters.
Meanwhile, security forces also busted an LeT OGW network today that was supplying arms and ammunition to the militants in Bandipora district.
Police said that an input was received that one Wagon-R vehicle is roaming between Chandergeer, Hajin, Shahgund and Gund-Jahangeer areas, carrying militants and OGWs and arms and ammunition and were planning attacks.
Security forces including 13-RR and police laid a naka at Khusarpora Hajin axis, leading to recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition, which was meant to be supplied to LeT group operating in the Shahgund and Gund-Jahangeer areas.
“During the checking, one white color Wagon-R vehicle bearing registration No. JK15-6569 was intercepted and 5 boarding persons including driver were questioned. They have been identified as driver Bashir Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Ahad Mir of Paribal Hajin, Mohammad Younis Bhat son of Sonaullah Bhat of Chandergeer, Shabir Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Majeed Dar of Chandergeer, Hilal Ahmad Parray son of Ghulam Ahmad Parray of Kochak-Mohalla Hajin and Sonaullah Dar son of Ghulam Ahmad of Gundjahangeer Hajin.
“The extensive search of the vehicle and personal search of the people boarding the vehicle was conducted and 10 grenades , 2 AK-47 magazines and 27 rounds of AK rifle were recovered from the vehicle. All the five persons were arrested and vehicle was seized.
During preliminary investigation, they revealed that they along with Inayat Ahmad Parray son of Mohammad Akbar Parray of Hajin were working for the LeT as OGWs. The consignment was handed to them by Inayat for further distribution.
In the meantime, police today arrested a youth, who appeared in a video holding an AK-47 rifle, after he returned to his home in Srinagar.
The youth, identified as Tufail Mir, had appeared holding an assault rifle in a video, which went viral on social media, including Facebook and WhatsApp on May 24, about a week after his disappearance.
“Mir is with his family at home,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir Range (CKR) Ghulam Hassan Bhat said here.
However, when asked whether the youth has surrendered or was caught, he didn’t give any further details about what led the youth to return home
In the meantime, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Suhaib Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Chursoo Awantipora in Pulwama district, was apprehended by security forces from Manigam area of Qazigund today. One pistol, one pistol magazine and eight pistol rounds were recovered from his possession.
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