Anantnag: Three militants including a foreign militant and a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander were killed in an encounter at Khandipora area of Awantipora area of Pulwama district while as an unidentified militant was killed in an ongoing encounter at Semthan village of Bijbhera in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, police said Tuesday.
Police said that slain LeT commander identified as Mukhar Bhat along with foreign militant were planning a fidayeen strike on the security forces’ camps.
J&K Police in a tweet said that one militant was killed in Bijbehara encounter and operation going on. A police official said that the identity and affiliation of the slain was being ascertained.
Earlier, an official had said that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched a search operation in the area.
He had said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated to, triggering an encounter.
He had said that the exchange of fire was going on and two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area.
Police said that another encounter broke out in Khandipora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday evening. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted that three militants were killed in Awantipora encounter and their identification being ascertained. As per our source, 1 is FT & 1 local militant of LeT namely Mukhtiyar Bhat, involved in several militancy related crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. A big success for us.” In another tweet, the ADGP said: “LeT Commander Mukhar Bhat among the three militants killed. As per source, he along with foreigner was going for fidayeen attack on security forces camp. One Ak 47 riffle, one AK-56 riffle, and one pistol recovered. Awantipore police and army averted a major militancy related incident.” Police said that Semthan, Bijbhera, Anantnag encounter was going on.
Police Statement: A police spokesman in a statement issued on Tuesday said that Police along with security forces have neutralised four militants in twin anti-militancy operations in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Awantipora districts. “Police along with Army (3rd RR) launched a cordon and search operation at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag following input regarding presence of militant in the area,” the spokesman said.
He said that as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding militant fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively by the joint party leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, one local militant identified as Shakir Ahmad son of Habibullah resident of Ladermud was killed,” the statement said. “As per Police records the killed militant was linked with HM militant outfit and was involved in several militancy related crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.”
Police said that similarly, on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Khandipora area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army (55RR) in the area.
“As the joint party approached towards the suspected spot the hiding militants fired indiscriminately on the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the statement said. “In the ensuing encounter 03 militants were killed. Among the killed militants, 01 is a foreign militants and another one is a LeT militant commander identified as Mukhtar Bhat while as the identification of the third killed militant is being ascertained.”
The police said that as per police records all the killed militantswere involved in several militancy related crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. “As per source, Mukhtar Bhat along with foreign militant was going for fidayeen attack on security force camp,” it said
