Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Security forces have launched a major operation against a group of heavily armed militants who have infiltrated into Lolab area of North Kashmir this summer.
Sources said that Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police today launched a massive search operation in Lolab forests of Kupwara district near the Line of Control (LoC).
Sources said that 22, 18 and 47 Rashtriya Rifles of Army and SOG Sogam launched a massive operation in vast forest area of Devar, Lolab and Tekkipora after they received information that a large group of around 20 militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Badr are in the forests. “These militants have infiltrated this summer through Macchil sector and have been cited in the forests”, they added.
Sources said the operation was launched after a general input about the militant presence in the forests. “The operation will continue for several days as there is no special information about their presence in a particular area”, sources added.
Sources said that the militant group is headed by a Pakistani militant, Aadil Ahmed who took over the command of Jaish-e-Mohammad after the death of Qari Yasir. JeM commander, Qari Yasir was killed in Garewad village of Lolab in July this year.
In Srinagar, police operation in Ahmad Nagar, Omarheir and Anchar area continued today after a Pakistani militant gave slip to the Police last evening after a police party tried to catch him.
The Pakistani militant gave slip to the police twice this month but police failed to trace him out. However, sources said that the militant is still hiding in the area. Police is keeping close watch over the suspicious persons in the area.
In the meantime, sources said that the militant commander who was arrested yesterday in Bandipora was one of the most wanted militants in the district. Junaid alias Manzoor alias Arshad son of Fakir Doi of Kehsan Aloosa, Bandipora was arrested in a joint operation conducted by 27 RR and Bandipora Police in Duban area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district last night.
Sources said that Junaid was not only a militant but was acting as guide for them. He was involved in infiltrating militants in North Kashmir over the past 14 years. He was the only survivor in the operation that was conducted against a group of HM militants in Ganderbal area last month.
Sources said that in 1999 Junaid had gone to Pakistan for arms training and was acting as a guide for infiltrating militants. He was carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
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