Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 23: Chief Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit and most wanted militant in Kashmir valley, Qari Yasir was killed by Army and police in a gun battle that raged in North Kashmir early today.
A police spokesman said here that top most JeM commander, Qari Yasir was killed in village Garewad in Lolab, Kupwara in North Kashmir by police with the assistance of Army.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Kilo Force, Sarath Chand described his killing as a major success for the troops and a major setback to the militancy in Kashmir.
The GOC told Excelsior that troops received information about Qari’s presence in a house in a village Garewad in Lolab, Kupwara. “We re-confirmed it from our local sources and last night we launched an operation in which SOG Sogam, Kupwara police and 18 RR took part. At first light, we brought out the inmates of the house out and then searched it. We couldn’t find any one inside. Then we searched two cow sheds, where we saw a hideout beneath cow dung. The militant fired from inside and we also fired at him and killed him on the spot”, he added.
The GOC said that Yasir was hiding in the house of Sarpanch of Garewad village, Abdul Rasheed Malla son of Mohammad Shaban Malla. One AK rifle and 3 magazine were recovered his possession.
Major General said that Yasir was the most wanted militant commander in Kashmir valley. “He was operating in North Kashmir’s Lolab area since 2006”, he added.
The GOC said that Qari was also coordinating logistics and finances for all militant organization – Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and JeM – in Kashmir valley. “He was also involved in training locals, arranging infiltration and sending them to Sopore and other parts of Kashmir valley”, he added.
“Mostly Yasir spent all these years in Lolab to strengthen his JeM outfit. He was also responsible for recruiting local youth into militancy. Yasir infiltrated from Pakistan in 2006 and was facilitating the infiltration of militants from Pakistan during these years”, the GOC said.
According to sources, Yasir spent entire last winter in a house at village Harvan in Zaloora area of Lolab. “His deputy Sidique was arrested last month after he had serious differences with Yasir”, they said.
A police spokesman said here that Qari Yasir alias Khalid Bhat was the resident of Nooristan Swat in Pakistan. “He had infiltrated in Kashmir in the year 2006. He quickly gained his order in the outfit from a platoon commander to Chief Commander of JeM. He was active in Rajwar, Lolab, Handwara, Vodhpura, Kandi, Chandigam areas of Kupwara District”, the spokesman said.
The police spokesman said that besides being involved in 11 militancy cases in North Kashmir, Qari Yasir was active for facilitating infiltration of the new ranks of militants along the LoC. He was in touch with Seed Baba alias Mufti Sahab of JeM across in Pakistan who used to facilitate infiltration from Keran and Machil sector of Kupwara.
In the meantime, Army today foiled an infiltration bid in Uri sector of Line of Control (LoC). Sources said that the troops noticed movement of a group of 3-4 militants crossing the LoC and heading towards fence.
Sources said that Army challenged the militant group and fired at them leading to killing of one militant. Sources said that Army saw a militant falling from a ridge. “A search operation has been launched in the area. However, so far his body was not retrieved yet”, they added.
A Srinagar based Defence spokesman said here that infiltration attempt by a group of three militants was foiled last night in the Uri Sector, when the alert troops deployed along the Line of Control, carried out effective engagement forcing them to run back towards the Pakistani side, leaving behind the warlike and administrative stores that they were carrying for initial sustenance.
The spokesman said that based on the intelligence inputs of likely attempt of infiltration by the militants waiting at the launch pads along the LoC in PoK, the troops deployed along LoC were put on high alert.
The spokesman said that last night suspicious movement was picked up by the surveillance devices of the units. Accordingly, the troops re-adjusted to cover the likely route expected to be followed by the infiltrating column.
As the militant group crossed over the LoC, the Indian troops engaged the infiltrating column, forcing them to return back to PoK. War like and administrative stores to include one AK Rifle, 4 magazines, 45 rounds, one bayonet, one wire cutter, three jackets, three ponchos, four shawls, nine pair of Socks, two Hand gloves, three mufflers, three knee pads, three caps, 18 pencil cells were recovered on search of the site.
The spokesman said that it expected that some of the militants could have sustained injuries. “Search operations are still in progress. Strict vigil is being maintained on LoC to thwart any such attempts in future”, he added.
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