Tral: Two militants were killed in South Kashmir’s Pulwama encounter on Saturday in an exchange of fire with a joint army, police and paramilitary team.
The gun battle was triggered during a cordon and search operation in Dachigam forest area of Tral between Namibian and Marsar, general area of Tral.
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar identified one of the slain militants as JeM Commander ‘Lambu’. Jammu Kashmir Police quoted IGP in a tweet as saying that top most Pakistani militants affiliated with JeM Lamboo killed in the said encounter. Police further said that the identification of second militant is being ascertained.
Later during a press conference IGP termed the killing of ‘Lambo’ a big success for joint forces saying that he was responsible for carrying out many attacks, recruiting young boys and brainwashing them. He said Lamboo alias Adnan alias Saifullah is a relation of Jaish chief Masood Azhar and had infiltrated into this side of Kashmir in 2017.
“There were 14 FIRs registered against him and he was the mastermind and main accused in the February 14, 2019 Lethpora fidayeen attack. In total, there are 19 accused. Seven have been arrested and with Lamboo seven have been killed. Five are still absconding.” He said.
Meanwhile, police in statement said that on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in the forest area of Namibian and Marsar, general area of Dachigam forest, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Awantipora Police and Army in the said area.
During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter two militants were killed. One of the killed militants has been identified as top most Pakistani militant Mohammad Ismal Alvi @Lamboo @Adnan, affiliated with proscribed militant outfit JeM. However, the identification of the other killed terrorist is being ascertained.
As per police records, the slain militant Mohammad Ismal Alvi @Lamboo was A++ categorized militant and figured among the list of most wanted militants operating in the valley. He was a highly trained especially expert in making of IED. He was the mastermind and main accused in the February 2019 Lethpora Fidayeen attack. He was also involved in the killing of SPO Fayaz Ahmed, his wife and daughter in Tral, recently.
Moreover, the slain militant was carrying out militant activities in P.D Awantipora, District Pulwama and district Anantnag. He was a close associate of militant Abdul Rehman @ Fauji @ Idrees Bhai R/o Multan Pakistan who along with 02 local associates were killed in an encounter at Kangan Pulwama on 03-06-2020. He was trying to re-establish and strengthen JeM militant outfit and utilize Awantipora especially Kakpora and Pampore area of Pulwama as a hot bed for receiving new militant groups and transporting them to the other parts for carrying out attacks.
It is pertinent to mention that militant Mohammad Ismal Alvi @Lamboo was closely associated with Jaish chief Masood Azhar and had infiltrated into this side of Kashmir in the year 2017 through Sakargadh Sector. He had also visited several training camps of JeM in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has earlier escaped from many encounters/cordon & search operations including at Doniwari Chadoora Budgam on 04/03/2020, Parigam Jagir Pulwama on 19/11/2020 & Kalenvan, Bijbehara Anantnag On 07/07/2021.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK rifle, 01 M-4 Carbine, a Glock pistol and a Chinese Pistol 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 incidents.
In a joint press conference, Corps Cmdr 15 corps, IGP Kashmir and GoC VF have congratulated the joint teams of Police and Army for the big success that led to the elimination of most wanted terrorist who was wanted by the law for his involvement in several militant cases.
In this connection, Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.