Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 26: In a major success, security forces today killed four militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in North Kashmir’s Handwara area of frontier district of Kupwara and arrested one.
Four militants were killed during a fierce gun battle in Monbal Haril in Handwara area this morning after a militant was captured by Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police last evening.
Sources said that SOG arrested a Pakistani militant Bahadur Ali, 22, alias Saifullah of Lahore Pakistan last evening at Yahama in Mawara area of Qalamabad, Handwara. The militant was being tracked for last few days by security forces and finally he was nabbed last evening.
Soon after his arrest, Saifullah was questioned by security forces and on his instance, the SOG and Army’s 30 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) cordoned off Monbal Haril, Nowgam sector of Handwara and launched searches.
In the morning, security forces intercepted a group of militants and challenged them. This led to a fierce gun battle in which four militants were killed.
Sources said that Saifullah had informed the security forces that he was part of a group of 9 militants, who were hiding in the forest area and had recently infiltrated into Kashmir form Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation was in progress till late in the evening against the other members of the group who are believed to be hiding in the forests. However, it was later called off.
Security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles, two pistols and other war like stores from the killed militants and they are trying to ascertain their names and other details.
A Defence spokesman said here: “Army today killed four terrorists and apprehended one, all foreigners from Nowgam sector of North Kashmir. Three AK-47 rifles and two pistols were recovered from them besides warlike stores. The operation has been terminated.”
A senior Army officer said that over 200 militants are waiting on the launch pads for infiltration into Kashmir before the onset of winter. He said that Army has intensified its patrols and vigil along the LoC to foil any infiltration attempts.
Three days ago, Army foiled a major infiltration bid along the LoC in Furkiyan sector of Kupwara during which one Army jawan was killed and another injured. Army had spotted three infiltrators near the fence and had launched operation against them.
Another operation launched by Army is on at Kanjalawan forests in Gurez sector of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district against a group of militants who have recently infiltrated into Kashmir.
Army received information about presence of a group of militants in the forest area and launched a massive operation three days ago. The group is believed to have infiltrated last week and is hiding in the forest area.
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