Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Security forces today shot dead two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who had fled from the cordon at Rakh-e-Lajoora village last evening but were trapped in nearby paddy fields. However, the LeT commander and one of the most wanted militants in South Kashmir, Irshad Ganai, slipped out of cordon in injured condition under heavy firing.
Meanwhile, a protester was killed when Border Security Forces (BSF) allegedly fired at youth who pelted stones at their vehicles in Malangpora village of Pulwama district this evening. Government has ordered probe into the killing.
Following a specific information about the presence of LeT commander, Irshad Ahmad Ganai, and his two associates, in the village, a joint team of Army’s 50 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 182 and 183 Battalions of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched cordon and searches at Rakh-e-Lajoora village last evening.
As the troops started searches of the area, militants fired at them. The troops also fired back leading to a gun battle. However, militants managed to flee from the village towards nearby village Ratnipora. As the militants fled, another party of the troops laid cordon from Ratnipora side and trapped the militants in paddy fields.
In the morning, troops sighted one militant in paddy field taking cover in an irrigational stream. Troops fired heavily for several hours killing Showkat Ahmad Lone resident of Lelhar, Kakapora and Gulzar Ahmad resident of Talangam, Pulwama. However, reports said that Ganai slipped out of cordon under heavy firing this morning and reached a nearby village in injured condition. He has a bullet injury in thigh and moved out the area.
A police spokesman said that two LeT militants were killed during an encounter in Pulwama and both were involved in a number of militant related activities.
“On a specific information, Pulwama police alongwith 55 RR started an operation, in Ratnipora area of the district, last evening. During the operation militants fired on the search part, which turned into an encounter. Two militants were killed in the encounter. The slain militants were identified as Showkat Ahmad Lone resident of Lelhar, Kakapora and Gulzar Ahmad resident of Talangam, Pulwama of LeT outfit”, the spokesman said.
The police spokesman further said: “Showkat Ahmad Lone alias Ali son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone was a categorized militant and was active since 2013. He was involved in many incidents of militancy in which civilians and security personnel were killed. He was involved in Pahoo grenade attack in which one CRPF man was killed and others including a CRPF Inspector, 2 civilians and a Policeman was injured. He was responsible for attack on sumo stand at Kakapora wherein many civilians were injured. He was also involved in Galander attack in which 2 police personnel and one civilian was killed. He was also involved in Puchal incident in which one Head Constable of Railways was killed. The militant was involved in creating fear psychosis among the Panchs and Sarpanchs in Pulwama.”
Police said that Gulzar Ahmad Bhat alias Shaheen was also a categorized militant and was active since 2014. “The slain militant always tried to create insecurity among the people and to disturb peaceful atmosphere. He was involved in motivating the youth to join militancy ranks in the recent past. He was involved in weapon snatching incident at Government Hospital in Pulwama. He played an important role in strengthening the over ground network of LeT outfit in the area. He was a close associate of divisional commander of LeT outfit namely Qasim. A number of FIR’s stand registered in various Police Stations against him”, police said.
A Srinagar based Defence spokesman said: “Based on specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in area of Lajoora, west of Malangpora, district Pulwama, an operation was launched by Rashtriya Rifles Unit of Army and JKP on Aug 10, 2015, resulting into the elimination of two terrorists and recovery of one AK 47, one pistol and other warlike stores.”
“Intelligence input about presence of terrorists in area of Lajoora, west of Malangpora, district Pulwama was received. Rashtriya Rifle Unit of Army along with JKP launched the operations at about 8 pm on Aug 10, 2015. While the soldiers of Army and JKP were in the process of establishing cordon, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and intermittent exchange of fire continued through the night. The area was effectively cordoned off sealing the escape routes. The operations continued through the night and got over around midday today resulting in elimination of two terrorists. The identity of the terrorists has been ascertained as Showkat Lone and Gulzar Ahmad Bhat both of LeT outfit. The operation was called off after a thorough search and body of the terrorists were handed over to the Police”, the spokesman said.
The bodies of two militants were buried in local graveyards in their respective villages in which thousands of people participated. At Tilgam during the funeral of Molvi Gulzar Ahmad, roof of a school building on which large number of people had assembled, collapsed injuring 8 persons.
In the evening, a group of youth pelted stones at two BSF vehicles at Malangpora in district Pulwama and the BSF allegedly fired at them leading to bullet injury to one Bashir Ahmad Bhat of village Padgampora. He was removed to Srinagar for treatment but the doctors at the SMHS hospital in Srinagar declared him as brought dead.
As the body of the youth reached his village, youth came out in large numbers and targeted a CRPF camp of 130 Battalion at Padgampora. The stone pelting was going on when reports last reached in and CRPF fired in air to disperse the protesters.
An official spokesperson of the State Government today expressed deep sorrow and anguish over loss of a precious human life during protest near Malangpora, in Pulwama, today.
The spokesperson reiterated that the security forces have been asked to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with public protests, particularly to avoid causing physical harm to any civilian. He said the State Government has ordered time-bound investigation and inquiry into the incident to ensure that those who are guilty of the offence are brought to book and punished.
The official spokesperson conveyed the heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the Government to the family of the deceased youth, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
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