* SPO kidnapped from Srinagar
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 25: Son of a police officer was among two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) killed in a fierce gun battle with security forces in South Kashmir district of Kulgam this afternoon soon after they barged into the house of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) worker, a village Sarpanch, to eliminate him, while militants this evening abducted a Special Police Officer (SPO) from Zakoora area of Srinagar and security forces have launched massive searches to trace him out.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that two militants of LeT were killed in the house of a PDP Sarpanch, Feroz Ahmad this afternoon at village Nowpora in Frisal area of Kulgam district soon after they barged into his house to eliminate him. He said that one of the killed militants Zubair Ahmad Bhat was son of a serving Police Officer, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Nazir Ahmad Bhat.
Kumar said that the two militants of the LeT, who were later identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat alias Musab son of Nazir Ahmad resident of Nowpora and Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat alias Amir son of Ghulam Mohammad resident of Chakoo, Shopian, barged into the house of PDP Sarpanch this afternoon.
The DIG said that as soon as a local Army unit received information about the barging of militants into Sarpanch’s house they rushed to the spot and cordoned off the house. Militants opened fire on the Army party leading to gun battle. He said that reinforcement from Police, 1-Rashtriya Rifles of Army and 18 and 90 Battalions of CRPF were rushed to the village to lay a cordon.
Kumar said that Sarpanch was not inside his house when militants barged into it. He said that troops exercised restraint as Sarpanch’s wife and daughter were trapped in the house along with the militants. He said that initially, his wife was rescued and later his daughter.
The DIG said that after the rescue operations security forces launched offensive against the militants leading to an encounter. He said that the house of the Sarpanch was damaged in the gun battle and both the militants were buried under debris.
Kumar said that bodies of both the militants and two AK rifles along with ammunition, two pistols and one hand grenade were recovered from the debris of the house.
DIG said that Zubair was active for past one year while Ashfaq had joined the LeT 9 months ago. He said that Zubair was involved in the killing of National Conference Panch at Wanpu village of Kulgam district on May 3 this year. “He was also involved in the killing of an SOG personal in Arwani village of South Kashmir last year”, said.
Kumar said that Zubair was also involved in the threatening of Panchayat members in South Kashmir.
The DIG said that after the operation ended, locals pelted stones at the security forces. He, however, said that all the troops from the village were withdrawn after the operation and bodies were handed over to the locals for last rites.
Sources said that militants of LeT this evening abducted an SPO from Hamdania Colony of Zakoora in Srinagar. “A police party had gone in civvies to the Hamdania Colony after they received information about presence of militants in the area”, said Sources.
Sources said that the SPO and another cop saw two persons in the agriculture fields and they were asked to show their identity cards by the cops. The duo, however, abducted both of them and later let off one of them while took another, Suhaib Ahmad Qadri along.
Sources said that militants were four in number and belonged to LeT. Police, CRPF and Army have launched searches to trace out the militants responsible for the abduction of the SPO.
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