Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: Top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Uzair Khan was killed in an encounter at Gadool, Kokernag in district Anantnag while a body was also lying near the encounter site.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
Speaking to reporters, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vijay Kumar said that Uzair Khan, who was involved in the killing of an Army Colonel, Major and a DySP on the first day of the gunfight, has been killed.
“Uzair Khan has been killed and his body has been retrieved. There is another body lying on the ground. We had information about the presence of two to three terrorists in the area,” the ADGP said.
The second body, as per ADGP Kashmir, seems to be that of a foreigner. He, however, said things will be clear once the body is retrieved.
Asked whether the operation has been called off, Kumar said that search operation will remain on for some time. “I urge the locals not to go closer to the encounter site as unexploded grenades or shells may cause harm to them,” he said.
On total casualties from the security forces side, the ADGP said: “Three officers, two from Army and one from police besides a soldier were killed in the encounter.”
He said that a search operation in a vast area is yet to be conducted and the body of a third terrorist may be found there.
An official said that the search operation is still going on in the area and it will continue till the area is fully cleared. He said para-commandos along with additional companies of security forces have been deployed in the area to search it and the movement of terrorists was being monitored closely by helicopters and drones.
The Kokernag encounter is the longest since August 5 this year when three soldiers of Army’s 34 RR were killed in Halan Manzgam forest area of Kulgam district.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
