Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 1: Army this evening killed three infiltrated militants during a gun battle in North Kashmir’s Nowgam sector along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan”, Army said here.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Baramulla based 19-Division of Army; Major General V K Khandare told Excelsior that a massive search operation was launched at Kayan Bowl in Tootmari Gali, Nowgam sector early today after Pakistani troops fired intermittently throughout the night to push in militants.
“The search operation was launched at around 10 a.m. today along the LoC with Pakistan. Pakistani troops started firing last evening with small arms and it continued intermittently throughout the night”, the GOC said.
“We had apprehensions that under the cover of firing by Pakistani troops, militants might have crossed the LoC and sneaked into our side. During the searches, infiltrated militants were spotted and in the gun battle three militants who had infiltrated from Pakistan last night were killed”, the GOC said.
Major General Kandare said that 3 AK-47, 6 magazines, AK ammunition, 3 hand grenades, 3 UBGLs, one I-com radio set, one map, Pakistani made medicine and wind sheeters were recovered. “The search operation in the forests along the LoC continued”, he added.
It may be mentioned here that this is the fourth ceasefire violation in North Kashmir since past one week and third in Nowgam sector.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Nowgam sector on May 26. Earlier, they violated ceasefire in the sector on May 25 and 24 and in Tanghdar sector on May 24.
In the meantime, security forces this evening killed District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in South Kashmir district of Shopian, a day after his associate and Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed yesterday.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, South Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that security forces early in the morning resumed the operation at Wandena, Zainapora in Shopian that was put on hold last night.
The DIG said that the gun battle continued throughout the day as the house where the militant was hiding was a concrete house and security forces exercised restraint to avoid security force and civilian casualties.
Kumar said that police and Army used 6 Improvised Explosive Devices to blast off the house where the militant was hiding. He said that intermittent firing continued throughout the day and in the evening at around 7 p.m. the militant was killed.
The DIG said that Police, 55 RR and CRPF today continued the joint operation that was launched yesterday after a specific information about the presence of militants in the Wandena village. One militant, Sajad Yousuf Mir son of Mohammad Yousuf resident of Litter Pulwama, the Divisional Commander and Financial Chief of HM for South Kashmir was killed yesterday.
The DIG identified the second militant as Mohammad Ashraf Rather alias Molvi resident of Nowpora, Pulwama. He said that Rather was District Commander of HM for Shopian district.
Kumar said that duo was involved in the killing of Sarpanch, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Kulpora, Pulwama and Mudasir Ahmad of Aharmulla, Pulwama this year. “They were also involved in the killing of Showkat Ahmad Rather of Grawgund Bandina, Pulwama in 2010 and Army man, Mehraj-ud-Din of Chandgam, Pulwama in 2010”, he said.
The DIG said that Ashraf was also involved in the abduction and killing of Maft Ahmad Rather son of Ghulam Mohammad Rather of Litter, Pulwama in 2005 and in the abduction and killing of Ghulam Mohammad Rather of Litter, Pulwama in 2010.
Kumar said that two AK 47 rifles, two pistols, four grenades, one UBGL and two magazines have been recovered from the encounter site.
Police sources said that Mohammad Ashraf Rather alias Molvi was resident of Nowpora Payeen in district Pulwama. The 30-year old militant was 12th pass and had joined militancy in 2005.
The sources said that Rather was arrested from Bandipora in 2005 by army and was sent to Sub-Jail Baramulla. After few months, Rather was shifted to Pulwama where an FIR was already registered against him in a militancy related incident. He was booked under PSA in 2006 and was shifted to Kuthwa Jail, Jammu and was released in 2007. He again joined militancy in 2010 and was with LeT militant outfit.
Around 200-300 people today gathered at Nowpora, the adjacent village of Wandena where the encounter was going on and pelted stones on police and the Army who were conducting operation to hamper the operation. Police used tear-smoke to disperse them and ding dong battles continued for several hours.
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