SRINAGAR: Two more terrorists affiliated with LeT have been killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists in Hanjin village of Rajpora in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday, taking the death toll to six including a soldier.
Police said that among the slain includes one district commander of the Lashkar outfit who has been identified as Nishaz Lone alias Khitab and one foreign terrorist.
Nishaz, as per police was a district commander of the outfit.
IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar termed the killing of five terrorists including Nishaz as a big success.
A senior police officer said that five unidentified terrorists have been killed whose identification is being ascertained while a search operation is on in the area.
He said that terrorists turned down repeated surrender offers given to them by security forces.
A soldier identified as Hawaldar Kashi of 44 RR was also killed in the ensuing encounter, he added.
Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which retaliated, triggering an encounter.
As precautionary measures internet services have been snapped in the Pulwama police district.
Meanwhile, Kashmir zone police tweeted: “District commander of LeT outfit Nishaz Lone alias Khitab & 01 #Pakistani militant amongst total 5 killed in Pulwama encounter.
A big success: IGP Kashmir”.
Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet said: “Encounters occur on a daily basis in J&K.
But when legitimate questions are raised the security forces must be held accountable.
The parents of the 17 yr old minor killed in the Kulgam gunfight claim that he was an innocent civilian.
GOI must come clean on these allegations.” In a June 30, 2021 encounter with terrorists at Chimmer village in Kulgam, the family of one Zakir Bashir, who was claimed by the security forces as terrorists, and got killed in encounter, alleged that Zakir 17-year-old killed in the Kulgam gunfight, had claimed that he was an innocent civilian rather than a militant, as claimed by the police.
The security forces said a gunfight had erupted in Chimmer village of Kulgam district of south Kashmir and after 44 minutes announced the killing of “two unidentified militants”.
Six hours later, at 7:11 pm, the police tweeted that “one more unidentified terrorist” was killed.
The Jammu and Kashmir police, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that three terrorists were shot dead after “acting on specific information… about the presence of terrorists… a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam police, 18Bn CRPF and 09RR in the area.” Zakir Bashir, a class tenth dropout, does not have a police complaint registered against him.
The family members alleged that Bashir had left on early Wednesday morning with his younger brother-in-law for an orchard in the Bon Naad area of the village.
Back at his home, during lunchtime, the security forces had cordoned the locality looking for suspected terrorists, the family had claimed.
IG police in a statement said, during the intervening night, acting on a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in Hanjin Rajpora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 182/183 BN CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, the civilians were evacuated to safer places & as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
Due to darkness, the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout the night.
Today in the morning, repeated announcements were again made to hiding terrorists to surrender, but the terrorists fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated.
In the initial exchange of fire two Army jawans received gunshot injuries and were evacuated to hospital, however one among the injured succumbed and attained martyrdom, the IG said.
IG police Kashmir range said, five terrorists killed, were identified as Nishaz Hussain Lone alias Khitab (district commander LeT), active since 2018, resident of Nageenpora Tral, Danish Manzoor Shiekh resident of Sathergund Kakapora, Amir Wagay resident of Hanjan Payeen, Mehran Manzoor resident of Jamalatoo Srinagar & a foreign terrorist identified as Abu Rehan alias Tawheed resident of Pakistan.
All the killed terrorists were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT, IG added.
As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in many terror crime cases and civilian atrocities.
IGP Kashmir congratulates Police & security forces for the big success & conducting successful operation in professional manner.