Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 9: A divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed and his associate fled from cordon while one Army jawan was injured in a gun battle in North Kashmir’s Handwara forest area this evening.
Superintendent of Police, Maqsoodul Zaman told Excelsior that acting on a specific information about the presence of two militants at Shah Mohalla Hamla Pati village in Zatchaldara area of Handwara, a joint team of Army’s 21 RR, SOG and 92 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched an operation at around 3:40 p.m.
The SP said that the militants hiding in a house came out and opened fire on troops leading to an encounter which lasted for 15 minutes in which one militant was killed. He identified the dead militant as Abu Mosa, resident of Pakistan, a Divisional Commander of LeT. He said that the militant was active in Handwara, Rajwara and Ramhall areas of the district since 2012. “He was leading the three LeT groups which are operating in the area”, the SP said.
Zaman said that Abu Mosa was involved in the killing of a police Head Constable at Hangalpora area of Vilgam on July 13 last year and in the attack on Army convoy at Dragmulla on November 16 last year.
The SP said that one GPS, one phone, one AK-47 file along with two magazines, two hand Grenades and a pouch was recovered from the encounter site.
Zaman said that his associate, Omar, fled during the gun battle. He said that the encounter in which Mosa was killed took only 15 minutes but troops were searching for Omar since 4 p.m. He said that Omar is injured and a massive hunt has been launched to trace him.
Sources said a soldier of 21 RR identified as Lias Naik Chinna Bassapa Pojari also sustained bullet injuries during the encounter. “The injured soldier was immediately rushed sub-district hospital Handwara where from he was removed to Army’s 92 -base hospital here in Srinagar”, sources added.
A Defence spokesman said here that based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched today by Rashtriya Rifle Unit and SOG, Handwara in Village Hamla of Handwara District resulting in killing of one militant.
“Specific intelligence was received at about 1530 hours today about presence of some terrorists in Village Hamla, near Zachldor of Handwara District. A joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group, Handwara was launched immediately. While the cordon was being laid, terrorists opened fire on the troops, which was immediately retaliated.
In the ensuing fire fight, one terrorist was eliminated whose identity is yet to be ascertained, though he appears to be a foreign terrorist. During the initial search of the area, one AK 47 Rifle with three magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition have been recovered. One jawan sustained gunshot wound was evacuated to Army Base Hospital, his condition is stable”, the spokesman said.
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