IED defused in Bandipora
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 13: Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with security forces this morning at Zadoora-Nipora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that a joint team of police, 19 RR of Army and 18 battalion CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in Nipora village of Kulgam district.
The IGP said that the militants were given an opportunity to surrender, but they refused, fired and lobbed grenades triggering an encounter. “In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies retrieved from the site of encounter. Their identification and affiliation is being ascertained,” he said. He added that the operation was conducted professionally and there was no collateral damage. Click here to watch video
Both the killed militants were locals and they have been identified as Umar Ahmad Bhat of Rampora Kulgam. He was active for last two days as he had joined militancy on June 10. Another militant has been identified as Nadeem Ahmad Bhat of Lagdoo DH Pora Kulgam. He was active since May 31 this year.
In their stepped up anti-militancy operations this year, the security forces have killed 90 militants so far in various encounters across Jammu and Kashmir.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, 55 militants including top commanders that include Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Reyaz Naikoo, Lashkar-e-Toiba top commander Bashir Koka and Jaish-e-Mohammad’s IED expert Abdur Rehman alias Fouji Bhai, were killed in various encounters in South Kashmir.
Security forces today destroyed a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted on the roadside along Bandipora-Srinagar highway near Gamroo-Lawdara crossing in North Kashmir’s Bandipora.
An official said that a road opening party and Explosive Detective Dog (ED Dog) detected the suspicious IED lying by the roadside in the morning near Gamroo-Lawdara crossing following which Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was called in.
The official said the IED was planted inside a gas cylinder on the roadside and was later defused after six hours by police’s Bomb Disposal Squad. He said that following the detection of suspected IED, traffic on Bandipora-Srinagar highway was halted from both sides as a precautionary measure.
The official said the traffic was diverted to other routes and the whole area was sealed where the suspected IED was planted and later defused. On March 19, an IED was defused by BDS which was planted near Higher Secondary School Nadihal which is very close to this area.
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