Night patrolling by security forces in vulnerable areas: IGP
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 6: Two militants, one each of Ansaar Gazwatul Hind (AuGH) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Tral area of Awantipora in Southern district of Pulwama district today.
A police official said that based on a specific input generated by Ganderbal police regarding presence of militants in Tral area of Awantipora, a raid was conducted by Awantipora police in the area.
“During the raid, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately at the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the official said. He said that one militant was killed in the first firefight.
“The reinforcement of Army (42RR) & 180Bn CRPF reached the encounter site and joined the operation. The joint team later killed the second holed up militant as well,” the official said.
The killed militants have been identified as Umar Nabi Teli alias Talha son of Ghulam Nabi Teli, resident of Ladoo Khrew and Shafat Muzaffar Sofi alias Muavia son of Muzaffar Ahmad Sofi, resident of Batagund Tral. Click here to watch video
As per police records, both the killed militants were associated with AuGH and LeT.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that security forces have killed 66 militants of JeM from December 21 to March 22, which has led to frustration among militants, who are now attacking the soft targets.
“The two slain in Tral encounter were operating in Srinagar. After civilian and soft target killing, they shifted to Tral area and were tracked and killed,” the IGP said, adding that in Pulwama, poor labourers from outside who had come here to earn their livelihood were attacked.
“We have identified the involved militant and very soon he will be killed. Similarly, police have got some leads regarding targeting of a Kashmiri Pandit in a remote village of Shopian and the involved militant shall also be killed soon,” the IGP said.
“You have seen that several foreigners were killed. However, the foreign militants use locals as a shield, as recently in Shopian where one local militant was killed while a Pakistani militant escaped from the encounter site and put local militant at the forefront.”
The IGP Kashmir also said that in view of soft target attacks by militants, the night patrolling has been enhanced and joint patrolling of police and security forces is being carried with security forces in vulnerable areas
In the meantime, police in Anantnag held meeting with Brick kiln owners and offered security for the non-local labourers working in these kilns. However, the kiln owners refused to accept the security as they told police that it would make them more vulnerable.
Meanwhile, encounter broke out at Haripora Imam Sahib area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district this evening with two militants trapped by security forces on the village.
An official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Haripora.
As the joint team of security forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.
The official said two militants are believed to be trapped.
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