62 militants including 15 foreigners killed this year: IGP
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 28 : Two Al-Badr militants were killed in an overnight gun battle in Mitrigam area of Murran of South Kashmir’s Pulwama.
Based on specific input generated by Pulwama Police regarding presence of militants in village Mitrigam area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (44RR) and CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party proceeded towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” an official said, adding that, “in the initial exchange of fire, one security force personnel received gunshot injuries. He was immediately evacuated to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
However, the operation was halted to ensure safe evacuation of all the civilians trapped around the encounter site. Moreover, all due precautions were also taken to avoid any collateral damage.” Click here to watch video
“After evacuation of civilians was done, the operation was resumed. In the ensuing operation, two local militants identified as Aijaz Hafiz of Dalipora and Shahid Ayub of Dheeri Murran linked with proscribed outfit Al-Badr were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.” he said.
“As per police records, both the killed militants were categorized militants and part of groups involved in a series of terror crimes including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. Both the killed militants were involved in series of recent militant attacks on outside labourers in Pulwama,” he said.
The official said that “Aijaz Ahmad Hafiz was involved in firing upon outside labourers Sonu Sharma son of Banarasi Dass resident of Pathankot at Yadder Pulwama, Mohammad Akram son of Ab Salam, resident of Bijnor UP at Arihal Pulwama and Wishwajeet Kumar son of Parwas Mandal resident of Banka Bihar at Circular Road Gangoo, Pulwama. He was also involved in firing upon bank guard namely Ab Hamid Wani resident of Tahab Pulwama and Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Kumar of Panchayat Halqa Arihal B at Arihal Pulwama,” he said
He said that “besides these crimes, Aijaz Hafiz was instrumental in recruiting Shahid Ayoub Sheikh into militants ranks, who too was neutralized in the encounter.
“Shahid Ayoub was involved in firing upon two outside labourers Patlashwar Kumar son of Jako Choudary and Joko Choudary son of Thaugh Choudary, both residents of Bihar at Lajoora Pulwama. Before joining ranks, he was working as a militant associate and was involved in several other crimes,” he 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.”
Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar said that duo were involved in the killing of non-local labouers. “Two AK 47 rifles were recovered from the slain,” he said.
Kumar said that 62 militants including 15 foreigners were killed in Kashmir so far this year and most of them were affiliated with LeT.
He said that due to enhanced human intelligence, technical intelligence and focused operations, the surviving rate of militants is drastically decreasing.
“During the current year, 62 militants linked with different outfits have been neutralized in different encounters so far. Out of these 62 killed militants, 32 militants got neutralised within just three months of their joining militant ranks,” he said.
“Among the 62 killed militants, 39 were linked with LeT, 15 with JeM, 6 with HM and 2 with Al-Badr. The killed militants include 47 local militants and 15 foreign militants.”
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