Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 1: A group of 3-4 militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) today gave slip to the security forces in North Kashmir’s Lolab forests by firing at a security forces’ party this afternoon.
Sources said that these militants were part of the group whose 7 members were killed by Army and police in a joint operation early this week.
Sources said that Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police today launched a massive operation to track down the group of militants after they exchanged fire with them at Dardpora area of Lolab in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
“Acting on a tip off, Army’s 18 RR launched searches at the forest area, upper side of Carpenter Mohalla in Dardpora, Lolab. Militants opened fire on them that led to a brief gun battle but they managed to escape”, sources said adding that reinforcement of Army’s 28 RR and SOG rushed to the spot to assist the troops to track them.
DIG North Kashmir, J P Singh, said that this is for the second time that this group gave slip to security forces.
Meanwhile, six militants out of seven eliminated by Army and police in a joint operation early this week has been identified and they were responsible for several militancy related incidents including beheading of a police man and attack on an Army convoy.
The DIG, North Kashmir, J P Singh today told a news conference in Baramulla that out of seven militants killed in the Dardpora Forest of Lalpora, Lolab early this week, six have been identified. “All these militants belonged to LeT and are foreigners”, he added.
Singh said that the investigation of the case was carried out on scientific and technical methods. “The scientific and technical investigation along with the account of eye witnesses who were victims of the atrocities carried out by these militants during past 5-6 months, revealed that this groups was operating in the area of Hardoona Forests of Vilgam, Police District Handwara and Lolab, Dardpora forests for several months”, he added.
“The scientific investigations also revealed that the same group was responsible for the murder of one Head Constable of Police, Sonaullah, whose throat was slit in the forests of Hardoona Vilagam Handwara last year. The attack on Army convoy on 16 November last year at Drugmulla was also carried out by the same group”, said Singh.
The DIG said that on the basis of evidence collected, the militants have been identified as Sufian resident of Pakistan, Rehman resident of Pakistan, Qari resident of Pakistan, Kashif resident of Pakistan, Dawood resident of Pakistan and Arqam/Irkam resident of Pakistan. “However, one killed militant is yet to be identified”, he informed.
Singh said that all these militants were categorized and listed militants. “The unidentified militant is also of foreign origin and had been seen with the same group”, he added.
The DIG said that the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen are at times working together and at times separately in North Kashmir. He said that LeT has sizable presence in Kupwara district as compared to other two groups.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel