Top Jaish Commander among 3 militants killed in Kulgam encounter

Kulgam: A top Jaish-e-Muhammad commander was among three militants, who were killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Nagnad village of Damhal Hanjipora belt of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday.
An official said that a joint team of Police, army’s 9 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in the area early this morning at around 4:30 am.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated triggering an encounter. “In the initial assault, two militants were killed and one more was later killed after civilians were evacuated from the house,” the official said.
Among the slain was top JeM commander and IED expert, Waleed Bhai, who, according to police was active since past 16 months in southern districts, a police officer said. From his possession a US made M-4 Carbine was recovered. “The identity of two other slain militants was being ascertained,” the officer said.
He said three soldiers, who received bullet and splinter injuries in the encounter are being treated at 92 base hospital Srinagar, where their condition is stable. This year so far, 140 militants have been killed this year so far of which 60 were killed alone in the southern districts of Kashmir. Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services were snapped in Kulgam district.
A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input generated by Kulgam Police regarding presence of militants in village Nagnad-Chimmer area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by JKP, 9RR and 18Bn CRPF in the area.
“The militants were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately at the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the statement said. “In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
One of the killed militant has been identified as a Pakistani national Waleed, an IED expert and a most wanted militant,” the statement read, adding that the identification of the other two killed militants is being ascertained. Police said all the three militants were associated with the militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad
As per Police records, militant Walid was involved in several attacks including civilian atrocities. He was involved in the killing of 04 civilians in Kulgam. He was also involved in luring innocent youth to join militant ranks, statement reads.
Arms & ammunition including M-4 rifle, AK rifle, Pistol, Grenade Launcher, Grenades and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes, statement adds.
The dead bodies of the killed militant shall be sent to Handwara for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA and in case any family claims the killed militant to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Handwara, statement reads
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station D.H Pora and investigation has been initiated and people are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, police statement adds