Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 1:Security forces today achieved a major success in the Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal by eliminating 5 militants of Hizbul Mujhideen while in South Kashmir district of Shopian a militant group fled from security cordon this afternoon.
Highly placed sources said that the militant group that was killed today was noticed in the Kagan forests some 50 days back. Security forces were tracking their movement and last night major offensive was launched against them after specific information was received about their presence in the Phali Nard forest area. “The group had recently infiltrated into Kashmir valley by crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara sector”, they added.
Sources further said that these militants were not part of the group whose two members were killed in Chatergul forests of Kangan last month. “Those militants had fled to Lolab area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district after their two members were killed and continued security forces operation put pressure on them”, the sources added.
SP Ganderbal, Shahid Meraj, while giving details of the operation said that acting on specific information, Ganderbal Police along with 24 RR launched an operation in Phali Nard Wanghat forest area of Kangan in district Ganberbal last night.
He said that five militants were killed and he identified four of them as Abu Bakar, Abu Khalid, Murtaza and Abdul Gazi. “The identification of fifth one is being ascertained. The group belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and all its members were foreigners”, he added. He said 5 AK 47 rifles, 15 magazines, 2UBGLs and scores of bullets were recovered from encounter site during the mopping up operation.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Victor Force, Major General RR Nimborkar, while addressing a press conference this afternoon in Wusan area of Ganderbal described the operation as a major success against the militants.
The General said: “We had inputs from last two days about the movement of a group of five militants in the area and after acting with full concentration on their movement an operation was launched last night.”
The Army commander said that at the first light today the militants fired in air after they were trapped inside the forests. He said that it was followed by a fierce encounter in which 5 militants were killed. “The encounter lasted four hours and the mopping up operation during which 5 bodies and arms and ammunition was recovered was completed by 2 p.m.”, the GOC added.
He said that it is difficult to say whether the group had recently infiltrated into Kashmir or was already present in the Valley. “It is believed that these killed militants entered these forests from Bandipora district as these forests are connected with the forests of that district”, he added.
In the meantime, a group of around 3 militants escaped from the clutches of security forces in South Kashmir’s Shopian district this afternoon.
Police and 62 RR of Army launched an operation in village Maldair, Imam Sahib in district Shopian after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area.
Militants fired on the security cordon that was being laid and fled towards the orchards. Police said that the security forces exercised restrain as large number of people were working the orchards in the area.
Security forces have, however, launched a massive search operation in the area to trace the militants. The fleeing militants left behind an INSAS Rifle and a magazine that was recovered by the security forces.
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