Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 17: Five militants of Lashkar-e-Tobia (LeT) were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Kulgam district today.
Acting on specific information regarding the presence of a group of militants in village Samno, DH Pora area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched yesterday by Kulgam Police and Army (34 RR) in the area.
During the search operation, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon security forces, which was retaliated by troops leading to an encounter. Later, CRPF (18Bn) also joined the operation. However, due to darkness, the operation was kept on hold till early morning. The cordon remained intact throughout the night and with the help of additional reinforcement the cordoned area was further strengthened.
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With the first light today, the operation was resumed, which resulted in the killing of five militants. They have been identified as Yasir Bilal Bhat alias Humais son of Bilal Ahmad Bhat resident of KG Raina Wanpoh, Danish Hameed Thoker son of Abdul Hameed, Ubaid Ahmad Padder son of Wali Mohd Padder, both residents of Chakoora Shopian, Sameer Farooq Sheikh son of Farooq Ahmad, resident of Chak Cholend Shopian and Hanzal Yaqoob Shah alias Hanzilla son of Mohd Yaqoob Shah resident of Rawalpora Shopian.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said today that security forces had received inputs regarding movement of some militants in the area.
Birdi said that during the search operation, a militant fired from a house after which an encounter broke out. Five militants of LeT were killed in the gun battle.
Deputy Inspector General of Police South Kashmir Rayees Mohammad Bhat told a news conference that five militants were killed in a joint operation carried out by Kulgam Police and Army’s 34RR based on a specific input.
The DIG said that these militants were involved in many attacks on police, security forces and civilians. They were also involved in a number of attacks on minority pickets.
“The slain militants Sameer Farooq and Danish Hameed were involved in the attack on KP Sonu Bhat of Chotigam Shopian,” the DIG said.
“Danish Hameed along with Hanzala Yaqoob Shah were involved in an attack on outside labourers at Gagren, Shopian on 13th July this year, in which 3 outside labourers were injured,” Bhat said.
“Farooq Sheikh was involved in instigating and luring locals to join militancy besides being involved in attacking minority pickets,” he added.
“Four AK series of rifles, four grenades and two pistols were recovered from the slain militants,” the DIG said.
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