Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 10: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander in South Kashmir who is one of the most wanted militants involved in major strikes in Srinagar and South Kashmir today slipped out of cordon in Rakh-e-Lajoora area of Pulwama district along with his two associates.
Sources said that following a specific information about the presence of LeT commander, Irshad Ahmad Ganai, and his two associates, in the village, a joint team of Army’s 50 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 182 and 183 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched cordon at Rakh-e-Lajoora village.
As the troops started searches of the area militants fired at them. The troops also fired back leading to a gun battle. However, reports said that the militants managed to flee from the area towards Ratnipora village.
The troops have strengthened the cordon around Ratnipora and Lajoora villages as they believed that the militants are still hiding in the village. They have also brought in generators to make lighting arrangements so that the militants may not take advantage of the darkness for fleeing.
Sources, however, said that all the three militants managed to escape from the cordon. Earlier last week, LeT divisional commander Abu Qasim managed his escape from Kakapora village along with a local militant but one local militant, Talib Shah was killed.
This is for the second time that the militants slipped out of cordon in South Kashmir during last 24 hours in South Kashmir.
Last night, a fierce gun battle raged between militants and police and Army at Mahind village in Sirgufwara area of Anantnag district.
Army’s 3 RR and Police cordoned off the village and militants present inside hurled a grenade at troops and fired from automatic weapons. The troops also fired leading to a gun battle. However, militants fled under the cover of darkness.
The police and Army continued the cordon around the village and conducted searches in the morning but militants had fled.
In the meantime, Army and police today conducted house-to-house searches in Chakla village of Rafiabad area of Baramulla district.
At around 5 pm, Army’s 32 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group of Police cordoned off Chakla village.
Army personnel carried out house-to-house searches and questioned locals about presence of militants in the area.
The troops also cordoned off and conducted searches in Adoora village of Handwara in Kupwara district.
Army today conducted extensive searches in the forests of Tanghdar along Line of Control (LoC) to track down the hiding militants.
Army’s search parties conducted searches in Tanghdar forests where infiltrators killed an Army jawan and injured three Para troopers.
Army’s Para troopers and choppers were part of the search operation but no militant was found in the area. It is believed that 5-6 militants had sneaked in but are hiding in the woods.
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