Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 8: Security forces today prevented a major Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) strike in Srinagar when they intercepted two militants, in the outskirts of Srinagar on National Highway in Pampore area, who were coming to Srinagar to carry out a Fidayeen attack.
Two militants were killed and four persons including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured in a brief shootout in Pampore area of South Kashmir this evening.
The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Police, 50 RR and 23 Battalion CRPF had established a checkpoint near EDI Pampore after it received a specific input about the movement of militants this evening.
A Tata Mobile bearing registration number JK22- 5943 passed through the checkpoint and the driver was asked to stop. The militants present in the vehicle fired at the troops and fled. They took position in nearby EDI building, triggering off a brief gunfight.
The troops gunned down them in the gun battle that lasted for 15 minutes. Two CRPF men and two civilians including a woman tourist were injured. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The injured CRPF men were identified as Parvinder Kumar and Mohammad Iqbal Lone. The injured civilians were identified as Ashya, wife of Sheikh Shamim, of Bihar and Reyaz Ahmad Dar of Ratnipora Pulwama.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Kashmir Nitesh Kumar said the slain militants had to carry out a Fidayeen attack in Srinagar and were intercepted by a joint team of security forces. He said that the duo was involved in an attack on CRPF convoy yesterday at Bijbehara in which six CRPF men were injured.
The two militants have been identified as Shakir Showkat Bhat son of Showkat Ahmad Bhat of Nowpora, Sopore and another militant is said to be a foreigner. Body of Shakir was handed over to his relatives and that of foreigner has been sent for burial.
The security forces had inputs for last one week that the militants of LeT are trying to carry out a Fidayeen attack in Srinagar. For last few days, police, CRPF and Army had established nakas at several places in Srinagar and its outskirts to prevent the attack. The naka at Pampore against the LeT militants was led by SP SOG Tanveer Jeelani.
A police spokesman said here that two militants were killed in an encounter with police and security forces in Pampore area of Pulwama district this evening. “During the encounter two civilians and a CRPF jawan were also injured”, he added.
The spokesman said that acting on a specific information, regarding movement of militants a joint party of police 50 RR and CRPF intercepted a Tata mobile in which militants were travelling.
“In an attempt to flee from the spot, the duo hurled grenades and opened fire on the joint party, resulting in injuries to a CRPF jawan and two civilians including a woman”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that the joint team immediately retaliated and in the exchange of firing, both the militants were killed. “The identity of killed militants is being ascertained. Three injured persons were shifted to the Hospital where their condition is said to be stable”, he added.
A Defence spokesman, meanwhile, said that the Army and Police today killed two militants in Pampore when they tried to break through a Joint Check Post by opening indiscriminate fire on the security forces.
“In a well coordinated operation based on specific information about suspected movement of some terrorists in a vehicle, Army and police established multiple check posts to intercept them in Pampore. In the evening at about 5:30 PM, when a Tata Mobile was signaled to stop, the security forces drew a heavy volume of firing which was swiftly retaliated by alert troops. In the brief gun battle that ensued, two terrorists were killed.
One AK- 47 rifle and one pistol have been recovered from the site besides other warlike stores. The bodies have been taken over by the police and their identity is being ascertained”, the spokesman said.
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