Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 23: In a major success for security forces, four militants were killed in Kashmir valley today in two separate gun battles in North and South Kashmir.
Police, 3-Rashtriya Rifles of Army and Central Reserve Police Force this afternoon cordoned off Siligam village in Ashmuqam area of Anantnag district of South Kashmir after reports about presence of a group of Hizbul Mujahideen militants in the village.
The militants tried to flee from the village once it was cordoned off but after finding security forces cordon all around they fired at the troops who retaliated leading to a gun battle. Three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in the gun battle.
They have been identified as Sartaj Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone of Wopzan, Bijbehara, Adil Ahmad Sheikh son of Fayaz Ahmad resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Bijbehara and Tanveer Ahamd Bhat son of Mubarak Ahmad Bhat of Baba Mohalla Bijbehara.
Three AK-47 riffles, six magazines, one UBGL, three UBGL grenades, one pistol with magazine were recovered from the encounter site.
A police spokesman said here today that three militants of HM were killed in an encounter in Ashmuqam area of Anantnag district this afternoon.
“Acting on a specific information about the presence of militants in Siligam Ashmuqam area, Police, 3-RR and CRPF cordoned off the area and launched the search operation. Hiding militants opened fire on the joint search party and encounter broke. The encounter ended with the elimination of three militants of HM outfit”, the spokesman said.
“Aadil Sheikh was involved in the killing of a policeman Arif Nazir Khan of Police Station Bijbehara on June 16 this year. Tanveer was involved in the killing of a civilian Javid Ahamad Sofi alias Waza son of Mohammad Ismial resident of Bijbehara. Javid was killed by militants on 22-03-2015 at New Colony Bijbehara”, the spokesman said.
In North Kashmir, Army and police this morning in a joint operation killed a militant who was trapped in a summer mud hut of nomads at Haji Naka forest area near Manigah village since yesterday afternoon when he opened fire on troops injuring Colonel SK Natt of 162 Territorial Army and an Army jawan.
Army’s 41 RR, 4 Para and 9 Para commandos along the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched massive search operation in the forest areas in Manigah following killing Colonel Santosh on November 17. The operation was launched on November 13 after Army and police received information about the presence of a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants.
Last night the Army tightened the cordon and carried out a massive assault the hiding militant. He was killed after a fierce gun fight. The operation in the area has been intensified and Army and police are looking for more militants who are hiding in the forest area.
The militant group is believed to have infiltrated last month and was trapped in snow. On November 10, the Army’s 41 RR had recovered body of a militant in Kumkadi forests of Manigah who was believed to have died due to severe cold.
A Defence spokesman said here today that four militants were today eliminated by Army in two different encounters in Kashmir.
“In a swift and surgical operation, Army and JKP today killed three terrorists in South Kashmir. Acting on a tip off regarding presence of some terrorists in village Silgam near Aishmuqam, a team of Rashtriya Rifles and JKP launched a swift operation. As the security forces approached the suspect house, the terrorists came out firing indiscriminately. Exercising strict restraint to avoid any collateral damage to the civilians in the residential area, the Army engaged the three terrorists in a brief gun battle in which all three were eliminated. So far two AK 47 rifles, one pistol and a UBGL have been recovered”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman further said: “Earlier, in the ongoing operations in Manigah Forest of Kupwara, North Kashmir, another terrorist was killed and war like stores recovered. It was a major blow to the terrorist organisations as also a true homage to the sacrifices of all soldiers fighting terrorism.”
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