Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 5: Two local militants owing allegiance to Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with a joint party of police and security forces in the Nillah village of Pattan area in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district today in the morning.
Two AK-47 rifles, six magazines and some other ammunition have been recovered from the possession of the slain militants.
Reports reaching here said that police and security forces received information about the presence of militants in the Nillah village late yesterday night. The village was immediately cordoned off by the advancing party and the encounter ensued today in the morning. The encounter turned out to be brief one and the two holed up militants could not offer stiff resistance to police and security forces.
The whole village was rattled by the exchange of gun-fire between the two sides. The locals of the area took refuge in their houses during the encounter and the situation turned normal only when the encounter ended.
The identity of the two slain militants has been established and both of them were locals. They have been identified as Nissar Ahmad Mir and Mohammad Ibrahim Janawar. Both of them were the cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit.
Reports said that police and security forces cordoned off the village last night and did not carry any ambush during the night. They advanced towards the holed up militants and following this the encounter started. However, before militants could cause any casualty to police and security forces they were killed. The house in which they were holed up suffered minor damages during the encounter.
Police officials said that the operation was carried out jointly by the personnel of Police Station, Pattan and the soldiers of 29 RR. They said the militants fired upon the advancing party adding that the fire was returned. They said the militants were killed in the initial burst and there were no injuries to any of the police jawans or soldiers.
“Acting on specific information about the presence of armed militants in village Nillah Baramulla falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Pattan, Police, Army Personnel of 29 R.R Unit, launched a joint operation and laid a cordon of the area, last night. During the process, militants opened fire on the advance party early in the morning, triggering an encounter,” said the police officials.
They added said that the encounter ended today in the morning with the elimination of two local militants, who were identified as Nissar Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Satar resident of Nillah-Pattan, Baramulla and Mohammad Ibrahim Janawar son of Gulam Mohammad resident of Sopore-Baramulla, both belonging to LeT outfit.
Reports said that the police and security forces asked the militants to surrender. However, this was turned down by the militants, thus leading to an encounter between the two sides. They said that as the militants turned down the surrender offer, the advancing party of police and security forces opened fire on the militants killing them on spot.
The Srinagar based spokesman of defence while giving details about the encounter said that on receipt of specific intelligence regarding presence of two armed militants in village Nillah-Hyderbeigh, Pattan area, a joint operation was launched by troops of 29 Rashtriya Rifles along with Jammu and Kashmir Police.
“The contact was established at 0515 hours and in ensuing fire fight, two armed terrorists were killed. Identity of the terrorists is being ascertained. Two AK 47 rifles, six magazines ammunition and other war like stores were also recovered,” said the spokesman.
He added that during the operation, army took adequate precautions to ensure that there was no casualty to civilians. He said that conduct of successful operation showed high level of synergy between Jammu and Kashmir police and the Army.
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