Top LeT comdr, associate killed in Awantipora

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, July 11: Top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander, Kaiser Koka, and his associate were killed in a gunfight at Wandakpora in South Kashmir’s Awantipora area today.
Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said that Kaiser Koka who was active since 2018 was among two militants killed in the operation that was launched early today.
He said Koka was involved in many militancy related activities in South Kashmir especially in Awantipora.
Earlier, acting on specific information generated by police regarding the presence of militants in Wandakpora village of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50 RR of Army and CRPF in the area.
As the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, two local militants of JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Kaisar Rashid Koka son of Abdul Rashid Koka, resident of Tengpora, Kaigam and Ishaq Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Nabi Lone, resident of Lelhar, Pulwama.
As per police records, Kaiser Koka was a categorized militant and involved in several miltiany related incidents including attacks on police, security forces and civilians. He was active since year 2018 and had ex-filtrated to Pakistan.
After acquiring arms and ammunition and training, he infiltrated back to Kashmir and was active in the areas of Awantipora, Pulwama. He was involved in an IED attack at Larmoo, Awantipora in May this year in which two CRPF personnel were injured.
Ishaq Ahmad Lone was a hybrid militant and was also involved in several cases including attacks on police, security forces and civilians.
“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,” a police spokesman said.