Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 16: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander, Ayoub Ahmad Lone alias Ayoub Lelhari, was today killed in a brief encounter in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
SSP Pulwama, Choudhary Mohammad Aslam, said that he was travelling in a Tavera car along with the driver and a civilian in Banderpora, Koil area when security forces intercepted the car. “He opened fire but was killed in the retaliatory fire by security forces,” he added.
“When the vehicle in which Ayub Lelhari was travelling was signalled to stop, it tried to jump the check post, after which the LeT commander started firing at the security forces,” police said. Two policemen were injured in the initial firing after which an encounter started in which Lelhari was killed.
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The SSP said that driver of the car has been arrested but the civilian fled from the spot. Ayoub, who hailed from Lelhar village of Kakapora in Pulwama, was district commander of LeT for Pulwama district.
Lelhari had been active in South Kashmir areas and had recently been designated as district commander by the LeT outfit.
On Sunday, top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Yasin Itoo was killed along with two other local militants in a 24 hour-long gunfight in Shopian district.
Yasin Itoo, alias Mehmood Ghaznavi, was the ‘operational commander’ of the Hizbul. He was one of the senior-most Hizbul militants active in Kashmir and was designated divisional commander after Burhan Wani was killed last year.
On July 1, the security forces killed LeT commander Bashir Lashkari in a gunfight in Anantnag district, along with another militant.
A CRPF man, who was injured in a grenade attack by militants in Budgam district of Central Kashmir, succumbed to injuries today.
Constable Reyaz Ahmad died at SKIMS hospital in Soura this afternoon. He was among the four security force personnel injured in the attack on August 14.
The militants had hurled a grenade at a road opening party of CRPF and police at Batpora in Magam area.
And a soldier who was injured in sniping of Pakistani troops in Rampur sector early this month succumbed to injuries at 92 Base Hospital in Badami Bagh Cantonment here today. Havaldar Narendra Singh who was deployed at a forward post in Rampur Sector was injured during sniping by Pakistani troops on August 7. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed today.
Army today paid tributes to the soldier. “In a solemn ceremony at BB Cant, Lt Gen JS Sandhu, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid homage to the martyr on behalf of a proud nation. In a show of solidarity, Minister for Revenue, Disaster Management, Relief & Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Parliamentary Affairs. Abdul Rehman Veeri and officials of other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the martyr”, said Defence spokesman.
“Hav Narendra Singh, 43 years of age, had joined the Army in 1994 and hailed from Village Haripur in Dehradun. He is survived by his wife Smt Asha Devi and two young daughters. The mortal remains of the martyr were flown for last rites to his native village in Dehradun where he would be laid to rest with full military honours. In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family of the martyr and remains committed to their dignity and well being”, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, today said that situation in Kashmir is under control and security forces have achieved major successes recently.
The DG CRPF said that security forces are getting big successes as there is good coordination between various security agencies: “As you are seeing that security forces are getting big successes and there is very good coordination between Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF. All are working as one unit in coordination. In future, these operations (against militants) will go on”, he said.
Bhatnagar said that security forces have eliminated 5 top commanders recently and will get others soon. “See, you have seen that at least seven commanders have been killed this year and around 132 terrorists have also been neutralized. We have said that we will get more success in coming time and we will get soon”, he said.
The DG CRPF said that the situation in Kashmir is under control. “I won’t get into numbers (of militants) but anti-militancy operations are ongoing operations and strict action will be taken against those who will tread this path of militancy”, he said.
Bhatnagar said that the security forces have adopted new stragegy to minimise damage while tackling protests. “See, we have adopted a new strategy by forming new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with Jammu and Kashmir Police by using maximum non-lethal weapons to tackle law and order situation, strikes, stone-pelting etc and you are seeing its impact”, he said.
The DG CRPF said that the impact of the NIA raids is visible on the ground. “Indeed, it will have good impact on whatever illegal activities, illicit funding – whether that be of terror, law and order, stonepelting – is there. Of course, its impact is visible”, he said.
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