Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6:At least two militants were killed in a brief shoot out in the orchards of Pinjora area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today.
A patrolling party from 44 Rashtriya Rifles was passing through the Pinjora orchard when militants targeted it. Shortly after the firing, the area was cordoned off and during the search operation, two militants were killed in the exchange of fire.
One of the two militants killed in the gun battle was a student of M Tech who had joined militant ranks only a couple of days back. He has been identified as Rahil Rashid Sheikh of Nunner Ganderbal. He had joined militant ranks on April 3. The other militant was identified as Bilal Ahmad, resident of Keegam, Shopian.
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Militants today shot dead an off duty solider of Territorial Army in Warpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The martyr has been identified as Mohammad Rafi Yatoo. He was critically injured and was rushed to Sub District Hospital Sopore where he was declared dead on arrival.
In the meantime, National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested the fourth accused wanted in the attack on CRPF Group Centre in which five security force personnel were killed.
The arrested was identified as Syed Hilal Andrabi, 35, a resident of Ratnipora area of Pulwama district. “Arrested accused Syed Hilal Andrabi is an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). He is a key conspirator who provided logistic support in the form of sheltering the militants and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF Group centre, Lethpora before the attack,” NIA said in a statement.
NIA said that with the arrest of Andrabi, total no of accused arrested in this case has risen to four. “The three accused that have been already arrested for being a part of the conspiracy for this attack include Fayaz Ahmad Magrey, resident of Lethpora, Awantipora, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat resident of Pampore, Awantipora and Nisar Ahmed Tantray resident of Dar Ganai Gund, Tral, Awantipora,” NIA said.
It added that after Andrabi was arrested, he was produced before the court and his five days’ police custody has been obtained for unearthing the larger conspiracy behind this attack. A case RC No. 10/2018/NIA/DLI (Attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora) stands registered against Andrabi.
NIA said that the Pulwama attack was carried out on the intervening night of December 30 and 31, 2017 by three militants of JeM.
The NIA investigation has identified three militants responsible for the attack as Fardeen Ahmad Khandey son of Ghulam Mohideen Khandey, resident of Nazeempora, Tral, Pulwama; Manzoor Baba son of Ali Muhammad Baba, resident of Drubgam, Pulwama and third one a Pakistani militant identified as Abdul Shakoor resident of Rawalakot area of PoK.
NIA said that all the three militants have been killed in a gunfight in which five CRPF personnel were martyred and three others grievously injured.
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