Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: One militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in a gun battle in Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today while two more are believed to be dead including an LeT commander.
The encounter started at Astan Mohalla in Kakapora this afternoon after police and army cordoned off the Kakapora village in district Pulwama. The troops had inputs about the presence of 2-3 militants inside a house in the village when they launched the operation.
Militants fired at the security forces during search operation and the security forces returned the fire killing a local militant, Talib Ahmad Shah. He was resident of Kakapora and a post graduate.
The firing stopped after initial gun battle and troops retrieve the body of the militant killed in the gun battle.
Police sources said that two militants believed to be Dujani, the deputy chief of Abu Qasim, the divisional commander of LeT or Abu Qasim and a local militant of Aloochibagh area of Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmad who were trapped inside opened fire on troops after a search party reached near the house where they were trapped after initial gun battle.
The gun fight continued till late evening and later troops blasted off the house in which the militants were trapped. Police believed all the three militants are dead, however, body of only one was recovered so far.
If Dujani or Abu Qasim has been killed in the encounter, it will be a major success against LeT in South Kashmir. Abu Qasim is said to the master mind of the Udhampur attack on BSF convoy yesterday in which two BSF men were killed and 11 others were injured.
Police and Army brought earth movers to remove the debris but later they stopped the debris clearance and it will be resumed in the morning at first light. However, the cordon around the village has been tightened.
A police spokesman said here that one militant was killed in an encounter in Kakapora area of district Pulwama today.
“On a specific information a joint operation was launched by police and security forces in Astan Mohalla area of district Pulwama. During the operation joint party was fired upon, triggering an encounter. One militant identified as Talib Hussain Shah alias Umar son of Shams-ud-Din Shah resident of Naman Kakapora was killed in the encounter so far”, the spokesman said.
“The said militant was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit. He was involved in a number of terrorist activities. He was involved in firing incident at Pampore in which 7 BSF personnel got injured. He was also involved in Galander attack in which 2 police personnel and one civilian got killed. Talib was also involved in Puchal incident in which One HC of Railway Police was killed. He was involved in Pahu incident in which one CRPF man was killed and others including CRPF Inspector and 2 civilians got injured. A number of FIR’s are registered against the slain militant”, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, as the police and Army started cordon and search operation, locals of the area started protests and pelted stones on search parties. The forces retaliated by lobbing teargas and pepper gas shells. In the clashes, a protester identified as Lateef Ahmad of Qazigund was injured after a teargas shell hit his abdomen. He was rushed to hospital but his condition is stated to be stable. The stone pelting was on till late in the evening.
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