Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 17: Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in brief encounter in Anantnag district of South Kashmir tonight while a soldier was injured as Pakistani troops targeted Army’s forward posts in Kamalkote sector of Uri today and police foiled an attempt by eight boys to join militant groups.
SSP Anantnag, Altaf Khan told Excelsior that a joint team of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, 19 Rashtriya Rifles of Army and CRPF cordoned off Bul Bul Nowgam area following specific inputs about the presence of militants.
“As the security forces intensified the searches, the militants hiding in the area opened fire triggering an encounter in which three militants were killed”, he said.
The militants have been identified as Showkat Lohar of Arwani, Bijbehara in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. He was an A-category militant and was recruited by LeT last year in August. Another militant has been identified as Mudasir Ahmad Hajam of village Danwatpura, Kokernag in district Anantnag. He was category-B militant and joined LeT in January this year. Both the militants were part of Bashir Lashker group, who was killed early this month. The third militant is said to be a Pakistani and has not been identified as yet.
One AK 47 rifle, an SLR and a pistol was recovered from their possession.
Sources said that Pakistani troops targeted forward posts of army in Kamalkote sector by firing mortars. One soldier was injured and he was removed to hospital for treatment.
SSP Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain said police rescued and foiled the plans of four minor boys of Gulgam village area of the district to join militant groups when a police party deputed for the purpose near LoC intercepted them. After proper counselling at police station Kupwara, they were handed over to their parents, he said.
The SSP said that last week, police in Kupwara prevented four more youth from joining militant groups. They were identified as Hilal Ahmad Fafoo, 18 years old son of Abdul Rashid Fafoo resident of Sheeri Baramulla at present Bumhama Kupwara, Firdous Ahmad Bhat, 19 years old son of Lal Mohammad resident of Bumhama Kupwara, Touseef Ahmad Shah, 16 years old son of Maqsood Ahmad, resident of Shatmuqam Lolab and Ahteram-ul-Haq Shah, 16 years old son of Abdul Ahad Shah, resident of Shatmuqam Lolab.
“After receiving the information about their fleeing from their homes, police parties were sent to different locations. The parents of the missing boys and their relatives were also involved, who played the positive role for their motivation and providing timely information with regard to their contact numbers and other details,” Shamsher said.
“During the swift operation, two boys from Shatmuqam Lolab were intercepted from Pulwama area who were heading towards Tral and other two boys hailing from Bumhama were intercepted from Vodhpora area who were also planning to move towards Shopian area, the spokesman said.
During the course of investigation, all the four boys have confessed that they were going to join the militant ranks as they are being reprimanded by their parents owing to various reasons including poor in studies besides they were also fed up with life style at home due to poverty”, the SSP said.
“All the rescued boys have been properly counselled and motivated for their re-union with the families,” he added.
In the meantime, a 60-year-old man was injured after Army allegedly opened fire in Bijbehara town of Anantnag district. Reports said that the injured civilian was identified as Mohammad Abdullah Ganaie. The injured was referred to nearby hospital for treatment and his condition is stated to be stable.
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