Awantipora, Sep 28 : Director General Police Dilbagh Singh Monday said that the gunfight that took place at Samboora, Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district last Sunday called the killing of one of the longest surviving militant commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and his close aide a big success and claimed that he was the main recruiter of the youth .
“The operation at Samboora, Pulwama started last Sunday in the evening hours and due to the dark, search operation couldn’t take place. When searches were resumed Mondat morning, two militant bodies were recovered. One of the slain militant has been identified as Aijaz Ahmed Reshi, who was longest surviving militant commanders of Lashkar outfit. He was working as Over Ground Worker (OGW) in 2015 and joined militancy before Burhan Wani,” Director General of Police (DGP) Singh told reporters during his address to a presser at district police lines (DPL) Awantipora, Pulwama.
He said Aijaz was a “dangerous militant” who carried out deadly attacks on security forces inflicting heavy casualties. “He took part in an attack at EDI Pampore in which eight CRPF men were killed. He had transported the Lashkar men to the spot as well. At Kadlabal, Pampore, he had fired at army party killing three soldiers. He had took part in series of attacks on security forces,” the DGP said.
He was the main recruiter for the Lashkar and had recruitment many youth especially Towseef Khanday, ,Rafiq Dar and Adil Ahmed, all slain Lashkar militants. “Aijaz was killed along with other local militant Sajad Ahmed Sofi who was recruitment by Aijaz and trained by him only,” the DGP said.
He said that two AK-47 riffles, two magazines, some rounds, and incriminating material was recovered from the slain militants. “The killing of Aijaz Reshi is a big success for security forces and there will be dip in the local militant recruitment where he was operating,” the DGP Singh said. He complimented the 50 RR and 110 battalion unit of CRPF who were part of the operation at Samboora.
To a query about local militancy recruitment in South Kashmir, the DGP said that the graph is low compared to previous years. “In the past 15 days, three youth were brought back. And this year so far, 24 youth who had left homes and joined militancy, were brought back with the active cooperation of their parents,” the DGP said
