Cordon tightened around Dachigam, searches intensified
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 3: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander involved in the Gagangir Sonamarg attack, where six migrant workers and a Kashmiri doctor were killed, was shot dead by security forces in a gunfight in the upper reaches of Dachigam area of Srinagar today.
Security forces last night launched a cordon and search operation in Harwan area in Dachigam Srinagar after reports about the presence of militants in the area.
An official said that a militant involved in the Gagangir Sonamarg attack was killed in the gunfight that broke out last night in Dachigam forest area.
He has been identified as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Junaid Ahmed Bhat, a LeT category A militant from Kulgam. The official said that he along with a foreigner was involved in the Gagangir Sonamarg attack in which 6 migrant workers and a Kashmiri doctor were killed on October 21.
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One M-4 rifle and other ammunition were recovered during the searches of the encounter site. 25-year-old Bhat joined militancy last year in July. He belongs to Thokar Pora Qaimoh in district Kulgam and his 70-year-old father Mohammad Ramzan Bhat and 40-year-old brother Ashiq Hussain Bhat are carpenters.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted about the ongoing operation. “One terrorist was killed and has been identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat (LeT, Category A). The said terrorist was involved in civilian killings at Gagangir, Ganderbal, and several other terror attacks. Operation continues in the upper reaches of Dachigam by J&K Police along with joint parties of RR and security forces. Further details shall follow,” tweeted Srinagar Police on X.
The residents of Harwan near the Dachigam area said that they heard initial gunfire last night. “It was around 11:15 pm last night when we heard a loud gunfire sound and came out of our houses to see what had happened,” said a resident.
Similarly, as a precautionary measure, all roads leading to the encounter site were sealed, and an alert was sounded in the area, with multiple checkpoints set up in Dachigam and Harwan Srinagar areas.
Security was tightened in Dachigam area and operation continued in the forest region as the official said that they had reports about the presence of two militants including a foreigner.
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