Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 22: In a major blow to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Central Kashmir district of Budgam, top commander of the outfit, Abu Ali, and his associate were killed in a brief gun battle in Chadoora area of the district this evening.
A police officer said that acting on specific information, 53 Rashtriya Rifles of Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police Budgam cordoned off Hayatpora village of in Chadoora area of Budgam district this evening.
The troops zeroed in two militants who were hiding in an orchard and in a brief exchange of gunfire, both the militants were killed. Sources said that militants fired at the troops as they cordoned off the area leading to a gun battle in which both of them were killed.
The two militants have been identified as Younis Ganai, a resident of Chadoora area of Budgam and Abu Ali, a Pakistani militant. They were associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba. Younis had recently joined militant ranks and was son of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Budgam president Mohammad Maqbool Ganai.
Ali was head of Fidayeen squad of LeT and was involved several attacks on the security forces, mostly along the National Highway this year. He was involved in an attack on Army convoy early this year in Pampore area of Pulwama in which several Army personnel were killed. He was also involved in attacks on CRPF convoy in Pantha Chowk area and Bemina areas of Srinagar.
Ali was also said to be involved in bank robbery in Chrar-e-Sharif, Arihal and Ratnipora areas. Two AK 47, four magazines, one pistol and Chinese hand grenade were recovered from the possession of the dead militants.
Abu Ali infiltrated into Kashmir last year along with Abu Ismail and Abu Rehman and they were mostly operating in South Kashmir but recently shifted to Budgam. They are active in the area for last several months. However, killing of Ali who was head of the group is a major blow to LeT in Budgam area.
Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a swift operation two militants were eliminated in Hayatpura, Budgam this evening. “Two AK rifles and one pistol were recovered,” he said, adding that there were no injuries to troopers and the operation has been called off.
In the meantime, on specific information, the Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police Awantipora raided a militant hideout in Charsu area of Awantipora early today and recovered 54 AK rounds, two AK magazines, one round of AK ammunition, one pouch, one torch, two bundles of wires, two mobile charges and one gas regulator.
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