LeT Comdr, associate killed; Army officer among 3 injured

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar Dec 28: A top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and his associate were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in South Kashmir district of Pulwama today while 7 persons were injured as Army fired on people who pelted stones on an Army vehicle in which an injured Army Major was being evacuated.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said that militants were involved in the grenade attack on a tourist bus in Bijbehara Anantnag in which four tourists were killed in July this year and grenade attack on a Narwal liquor shop in Jammu in which one person was killed and 5 others were injured.
He said that Srinagar Police, Pulwama Police along with 55 Rashtriya Rifles of counter insurgency Victor Force of Army and 182 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint operation in village Bubgam, Asthan Mohalla, in South Kashmir district of Pulwama early today.
The DIG said that the militants fired upon the joint search party, triggering an encounter in which both the militants were killed.
Sources said that at around 10:30 p.m. the two militants entered the house of Dr Bashir Ahmad Kar and asked him to treat tooth of a militant. They said that as the dentist was repairing the tooth of one of the militant, police and CRPF knocked at the door of doctor and asked him about the two persons present in his house. He was sent inside with a surrender message but militants refused. The doctor was detained by the police and his family was rescued before the operation was launched.
Sources said that the police was tracking the militants and as soon as the duo entered the village it was cordoned off. It was followed by siege around the house of the doctor.
Vijay Kumar identified the dead militants as Imtiyaz Ahmed Teli alias Fahadullah Kashmiri, resident of Pulwama, a district commander of the LeT and Mohammad Aamir Bhat alias Khalid alias Khursheed, resident of Shopian.
The DIG said that Teli was active in South Kashmir and arrested by Srinagar police but after 10 months detention he was released in June 2010. However, Imtiyaz recycled again in 2011 after being motivated by the then divisional commander of LeT Rehman Bhai.
The Police officer said both the militants were involved in the grenade attack in Bijbehara on a tourist bus in July this year. Four tourists were killed and 4 others were injured when militants hurled a grenade on a tempo traveller bearing registration number JK02AP/0676 in which a group of tourists were on their way to Srinagar from Pahalgam on July 28.
The DIG said that Imtiyaz Ahmed Teli was involved in the grenade attack on a liquor shop at Narwal in Jammu in November this year in which one person had died, and five others were injured.
Police said that an Army Major, a captain and a policeman were also injured in the encounter. “When the Army Major was being evacuated for treatment, a mob attacked the ambulance at Pulwama, by hurling stones”, police added.
Police said that in the retaliatory action seven persons Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, Ashiq Ahmad, Jahangir Ahmed, Gowhar Ahmad, Imran Bhat, Showkat Mir and Younis Mir were injured. “One has been admitted in Bone and Joints Hospital, and six to SMHS Srinagar for treatment”, police added. The condition of the injured is stated to be out of danger.
Curfew like restrictions were imposed in Pulwama town after the encounter as hundreds of people marched towards the town to take the bodies of the two militants. People were stopped outside town by police and they, in retaliation, pelted stones on police resulting in ding dong battles during which police fired teargas shells to disperse the mob.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, has ordered a magisterial probe into the police firing incident which took place here today.
The enquiry shall be conducted by Additional District Magistrate Pulwama who has been asked to furnish the report within a period of 15 days.
Meanwhile, on the instructions of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, the Secretary Regional Red Cross Committee distributed Rs. 15000 among the injured persons who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Srinagar.

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