Major tragedy averted, IED recovered
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 16: Three militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) including the killer of teacher Rajni Bala were shot dead in two separate encounters in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts today while security forces averted a major tragedy by recovering an Improvised Explosive Device from Pulwama.
An official said that a militant was killed in Hangalgund, Kokernag area of Anantnag where two more militants are believed to be trapped while two militants were killed in Mishipora-Kujjar area of Kulgam.
Acting on a specific information, a joint team of Police, Army’s 1 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched cordon and search operation in Mishipora-Kujjar area of Yaripora following specific information about the presence of some militants in the area yesterday.
As the security forces intensified the searches, militants hiding in the area opened fire, leading to a gunfight.
The hiding militants managed to shift their base consistently in the village after the initial exchange of fire and tried to breach the cordon but the cordon remained firmly intact and search was going on from the past two days to nab them.
Today, the contact was re-established with the hiding militants and the encounter resumed. In the ensuing encounter two militants of HM outfit were killed so far.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that one of the militants killed in Kulgam was involved in killing of Rajni Bala, a teacher from Samba who was shot dead when she was on duty in School at Gopal Pora in Kulgam. He identified him as Zubair Sofi who was active militant since September 2021.
An operation was launched by Police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants in Hangalgund, Kokernag area of Anantnag district this afternoon.
As the security forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus, triggering an encounter.
During exchange of fire, a militant affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen was killed while as operation is going on in the area.
In the meantime, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing 15 kilograms was recovered from the orchard of Aramulla in Lassipora Litter area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
The IED was recovered and later Bomb Disposal Squad was called in to defuse it. The security forces launched a joint operation and arrested two militant associates identified as Mohammad Younis Mir son of Parvaiz Ahmad Mir and Jan Mohammad Ganie son of Ghulam Nabi Ganie, both residents of village Armullah Pulwama in this connection.
A case (FIR No. 65/2022 under relevant Sections of law) was registered at Police Station Litter and further investigation has been initiated.
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