Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 24: Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants including their top commander were killed in a gunfight in Pulwama district and one of them includes a 17-year-old Srinagar youth, who was missing from April 16.
The two other militants include Arif Hazar alias Rehan who was deputy to the outfit’s top commander Basit while the third militant has been identified as Abu Hufaiza alias Haqqani of Pakistan.
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that the teenager Natish Shakeel Wani of Baba Demb Khanyar, was among the killed militants. The teenager had left for afternoon Zuhr prayers on April 16 and had been missing since then. While family had issued appeal to him to return, police said he had joined militant ranks.
Kumar identified other militant as Arif Hazar and said that he was involved in the killing of Inspector Parvez, Sub Inspector Arshid and mobile shop owner in Srinagar. He said Rehan was recruited by Abass Sheikh and was part of killer group headed by Mehran. “After killing of Mehran, Basit became no. 1 and Rehan No. 2”, he added.
The operation against the militants was launched by police and 50 RR of Army on specific input generated by Pulwama Police regarding presence of militants in Pahoo area of Pulwama.
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During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, three militants of LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Arif Ahmad Hazar alias Rehan, deputy of LeT’s top commander Basit, Abu Huzaifa alias Haqqani and Natish Wani alias Haider resident of Khanyar, Srinagar.
As per police records, all of them were part of groups involved in several militancy cases. Police said that Arif Hazar was a categorized militant, active since March 2021 and involved in several militancy incidents including attacks on police, security forces and civilian besides, several cases were registered against him in Srinagar city.
“He was involved in killing of Inspector Parvez in front of mosque at Menganwari Nowgam on 22-06-2021, killing of PSI Arshid Ahmad Mir near PS Khanyar on 12-09-2021, killing of police personnel Javaid Ahmad at Saidapora Eidgah on 17-06-2021, killing of mobile shop owner Umar Nazir Bhat at Main Chowk Habba Kadal on 23-06-2021, killing of civilian Mohammad Shafi Dar at SD Colony Batamaloo, killing of civilian Rouf Ahmad Khan outside his house at Mejinpora Safakadal on 22-12-2021. Besides, he was also involved in grenade attacks on police patrolling party at Safakadal and joint Naka party at Rainawari. Moreover, he along with his associates was also involved in an attack on BJP leader’s residence at Aribagh, Nowgam Srinagar in which one police personnel Rameez Raja was killed and his service rifle was also snatched. He was also involved in attack on two outside labourers at Suthsoo Kalan area of Nowgam on 22-04-2022”, police said.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation”, police added.
In the meantime, Kulgam encounter today concluded with the killing of two foreign JeM militants in Mirhama area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
The IGP identified them as Sultan Pathan and Zabiullah, both residents of Pakistan. They were categorised militants and active since year 2018 in the areas of Kulgam-Shopian districts.
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