Srinagar, Oct 10: A top commander of Lashker-e-Toiba was among four militants killed in two separate gunfights in south Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
Also, a newly recruited militant from Doda was arrested alive during the gunfight at Dadoora village of Pulwama district and a pistol was recovered from his possession, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
“One militant Firdous Ahmad Tak son of Abdul Gani Tak of Doda was arrested alive during the gunfight,” Inspector general of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar.
He also identified the two slain militants as Shabir Ahmad and Zahid Rashid Bhat alias Zahid Tiger son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Drabgam. Zahid was a top LeT Commander, the top police officer said and termed his killing as a “big success for Police and security forces.”
The encounter at Dadoora village of Pulwama had ensued after a joint team of Police and Army launched a joint cordon-and-search-operation following inputs about the presence of the militants.
“As the joint team encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter,” a police officer said.
Earlier two militants of Jash-e-Mohammad outfit identified as Tariq Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rahman Mir of Zangalpora Divsar Kulgam and a Pakistani national identified as Sameer Bhai alias Usman of Punjab Pakistan were killed in Kulgam.
“On a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Chinigam area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, army’s 1RR and 18 battalion CRPF in the area,” said a police spokesperson in a statement.
“During the search operation, as the presence of (militants) got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.”
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two “hardcore (militants) were killed and their bodies have been retrieved from the site of encounter”.
Regarding Sameer Bhai alias Usman, the spokesperson said that he was a ‘A-category’ militant of JeM.
“As per the police records, both the killed (militants) were part of groups responsible for carrying out (militant) attacks. They were involved in many crimes and civilian atrocities including killing of one police personnel namely Khursid Ahmad at Furah Mirbazzar, attack on Sarpanch namely Aarif Ahmad at Akhran Mirbazzar in which he was critically injured,” he said, adding, “IGP Kashmir appreciated the role of Police/Security forces for timely and safely evacuation of civilians during encounter and for maintaining strict restraint during search of two mosques inside cordon area.”
The spokesperson said that Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of the militants (were sent) to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities.”
