Sikander Gulzar
Awantipora, Aug 21 (GNS): Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in a gunfight in upper reaches of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, officials said.
“Personnel from (army’s) Victor Force who were conducting search operations in the upper reaches of Nagaberan and Dacchigam Forests since August 17, established contact with militants at 6:45 a.m. on August 20,” defence ministry spokesman based here said. “Three militants were neutralised in a swift operation,” the spokesman added.
Later addressing a presser along with GoC of Victor Force Major Gen Rashim Bali here, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said one of the slain militants has been identified as Wakeel Shah who he said was involved in the killing of BJP leader Rakesh Pandita on June 2. “It is a huge success” he said.
The top police officer of Kashmir zone said there was no collateral damage in the operation.
“It was a very difficult operation and concluded without any collateral damage. We cordoned off the target area, offered them surrender, but they fired and were killed in retaliation,” he said.
“I want to tell the militants and their families that do not think that you will hide in the mountains after killing civilians and no one will do anything. Our force is professional and we will track you there also and neutralise you like we have been,” he said as per GNS.
Major Gen Bali said the militants were operating in the area for a long time. He said two AK-47 rifles, one SLR and other “warlike” stores have been recovered from them.
Besides Wakeel Shah, the police identified the two others slain as Abdul Hamid Chopan whose son Adil chopan was also a militant, killed in an encounter in year 2017, and Illyas Najar son of Manzoor Najar of Khellan Pulwama. “He was active since June 2019. He was also involved in many cases,”police said in a tweet in the evening.
“SLR recovered from today’s encounter is the same looted from minority guard at Zainpora Shopian on 11/12/ 2018,” police added. (GNS)
