Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 13: A divisional commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was among three foreign militants killed in a fierce gun battle in Dooru village in the foothills of Cherhar forests where operation against the group was going on for past four days.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, Abdul Gani Mir told a press conference in Sopore this evening that three killed militants include divisional commander of JeM, Abu Hassan.
The IGP said that today police received information about the presence of these militants in Dooru village of Sopore and they along with Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched an operation against the militant group.
Mir said that during the encounter three militants were killed. One of them has been identified as Abu Hassan who had replaced Qari Yasir who was killed last year by security forces in an operation. “All of them are foreigners and belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad”, he added.
Police later identified the two others as Muzamil alias Farooq and Rizwan, all Pakistanis. “And during the searches of the encounter site three matrix sheets, three AK-47 rifles, three pouchs, seven magazine, four grenades, 120 rounds of AK ammunition, one wireless set and dry fruit and chocolates were recovered”, police added.
The IGP said: “It was very important operation. This group has nothing to do with infiltration. It was here in Kashmir valley for last one year. We were tracking them for long. Earlier also operations against them were launched.”
Mir said that this group was operating in Lolab area for past one year and they were categorised militants and have not infiltrated recently.
The IGP said that today’s operation was part of the Cherhar operation that Army and police had launched few days back. “Few militants of that group are still at large and we are after them”, he added.
A Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Lt Col NN Joshi, said here that based on specific intelligence provided by SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police, a joint operation was launched Rashtriya Rifles of Army and SOG in village Dooru, Pajalpura, Sopore resulting into killing of three militants and recovery of three AK-47 Rifles, ammunition and other warlike stores. “Two Army personnel sustained gunshot wound when the terrorists fired at them”, the spokesman added.
Col Joshi said that Joint search operations were launched by troops of Rashtriya Rifles and SOG, Sopore on Friday in the Marvel village following a specific information about the presence of 2 to 3 militants in the area.
“Search operations continued till today, when the terrorists hiding in a house in Dooru village opened fire at Army personnel injuring two soldiers. A fierce gunfight ensued which continued for four hours, resulting into elimination of three foreign terrorists and recovery of three AK series rifles, ammunition and other war like stores. The operations were carried out surgically with no collateral damage”, the spokesman added.
Sources said that it was a group of at least five militants who were hiding in Cherhar forests. “These militants were part of 10-12 militants of JeM who were operating in Lolab area. All of these militants had infiltrated last year. After continued operations against them by the security forces, part of the group shifted to Cherhar forests where security forces launched operation against them on Friday”, sources added.
It may be mentioned here that 27 RR of Army and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a massive operation in North Kashmir’s Sopore forests on Friday and it was extended to adjoining villages after security forces felt that part of the group had fled to nearby villages.
The operation was extended to nearby villages of Marbel, Chirhar, Hard Shiva, Yemberzal, Rishipora, Rampur and Rajpur of Cherhar forests on Saturday and security forces are keeping vigil at suspicious movements.
More troops belonging to 14, 22 and 30 RR were rushed to the area to assist the troops who had initially cordoned off the area. Army commandos of 5 PARA were also assisting the security forces in the operation.
Today the security forces got information that these militants were hiding in Dooru village and three of them were killed in the operation.
The Defence spokesman said that Corps Commander 15 Corps, Lt General Gurmit Singh congratulated the personnel of Army and SOG Sopore for the success of the operations. “The General lauded the Police for the synergy with Army and for the excellent intelligence network. He said despite the operations sustaining over four days, the troops exhibited the grit and patience, and the result is there for all to see”, the defence spokesman while quoting the General said.
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