* Major strike ahead of RD averted: ADGP
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Security forces today killed two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants after they fired upon them near Court Complex in Budgam district.
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Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar described it as a major success as they were planning a major strike in the district ahead of Republic-Day.
“They were tasked to carry out some sensational (militant) incident in Budgam district ahead of forthcoming Republic Day,” he said.
He said that both the militants escaped earlier from the recent encounter in Budgam. They have been identified as Arbaaz Ahmad Mir of Putrigam Rajpora and Shahid Ahmad Sheikh of Kisrigam Kakapora in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
“As per police records, both the (militants) were categorized (militants) and part of groups involved in several cases,” he said.
A police spokesman said that acting on specific input regarding movement of (militants), a joint naka of Police and Army’s 62RR was established near Court crossing Budgam. “During area domination, the joint party signalled a suspected vehicle (Sumo) bearing registration number JK04B-6771 to stop. However, the (militants) onboard jumped from the vehicle and started firing indiscriminately on the joint party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” he said.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-47 rifle and one pistol were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the spokesman said.
A case under relevant Sections of law has been registered and investigation initiated.
Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh said here that the two LeT militants from Pulwama district who were killed in Budgam gunfight were planning to move towards Srinagar district.
The Police chief said that the operation was launched yesterday in Budgam, but after a firefight for some time, the militants gave slip and were traced again today.
“During a naka, the militants were traced and were asked to stop for checking, but they jumped from the vehicle and fired upon the forces and tried to escape the spot,” he said and added that the fire was retaliated and the duo belonging to LeT and hailing from Pulwama district were killed during the encounter.
“Both the militants were moving towards Srinagar district and the reasons behind will be known after the investigation. They left from their old hideout and were in search of the new hideout,” he said.
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