Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR May 7: In a major operation that was launched by security forces in Baramulla district of North Kashmir after the killing of three civilians in Baramulla town last week, four militants and nine persons including Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants were arrested and hunt for two other militants is going on.
Sources said that the militants who were arrested include Aijaz Gojri, Nadeem Kalai alias Ustad alias Osama of Nowpora Sopore, Nasir Mochi of Amargarh Sopore and Bilal Ahmad Najar alias Billa Paata son of late Ghulam Ahmad Najjar, resident of Bunglow Bagh Old Town Baramulla.
The nine other persons including OGWs, who were arrested, are Owais Rashid Bhat son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Drangbal, Ozair Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Amin Bhat resident of Baghi Islam Baramulla, Mohammad Amin Bhat son of Abdul Rehman Bhat resident of Baghi Islam Baramulla, Muzamil Bashir Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Bangla Bagh Baramulla, Sharif Bashir Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Bangla Bagh Baramulla, Nayeem Abdullah Bhat son of Mohammad Abdullah Bhat of Drangbal Baramulla, Zaffar Ahmad of Sopore, Asim Sheikh of Old Town Baramulla and Abid Manzoor Najar of Khanpora Baramulla.
They were arrested after Baramulla Police, 46 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army, 52 and 53 Battalions of launched massive operation after the killing of three persons – Asghar Ahmad Sheikh, Asif Ahmad Sheikh and Haseeb Khan, all residents of Jamia Mohalla Old Town Baramulla – by militants at Iqbal Market Khanpora area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on April 30 last week.
The killing of the three civilians was widely condemned even by separatists including Hurriyat Conference who termed it inhuman. The Hizbul Mujahideen had also condemned their killing.
Security forces launched massive operation in Drangbal village which is few kilometers away from the Old Town Baramulla against the militants who killed three civilians in Baramulla town after inputs about their presence in the forest area.
Security forces later extended the operation in Upper reaches of Rafiabad forests against the same militant group. A joint team of 32 RR of Army and SOG had cordoned off vast forest area to hunt the militant group. The Para Commandos of the Army had also joined the operation.
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