Five Lashker-e-Toiba militants, one of them claimed to be involved in the killing of a non-local street hawker at Lal Bazar here, were killed in two separate gunfights in Shopian district of South Kashmir since overnight.
“At about 1800 hours, acting on specific inputs provided by police about presence of (militants) in villages Tulran and Feeripora of Shopian, Police along with (army’s) 34RR and CRPF launched joint cordon and search operations in the areas,” a police spokesperson said.
During the search operation at Tulran, he said, as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender.
“Instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter”.
However, he said, due to darkness the operation was suspended while the cordon was kept intact.
“In the wee hours, repeated announcements were again made to the hiding (militants) to surrender but (they) again fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated.”
In the ensuing gunfight, three militants were killed and have been identified as Danish Hussain Dar of Ray Kapren Shopian, Yawar Hussain Naikoo of Pahlipora and Mukhtar Ahmed Shah of Sindbal Ganderbal.
“As per police records, the killed (militants) were linked with LeT (TRF) and remained part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on security establishments and civilian,” the spokesman said in the statement to GNS, adding, “It is pertinent to mention that killed Mukhtar Shah was involved in target killing of a non-local vendor in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar and shifted to Shopian after (it).”
Meanwhile, search operation at Feeripora Shopian also remained suspended throughout the night and resumed in the wee hours.
“At about 1000hrs, contact was established with the hiding (militants) and they were given ample opportunities to surrender. However, they started firing indiscriminately at the search party which was retaliated, leading to a gunfight.”
In ensuing gunfight, he said, two militants were killed and identified as Ubaid Ahmad Dar of Ray Kapren and Khubaib Ahmad Nengroo of Braripora.
“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were linked with LeT and involved in several cases,” he said, adding, “IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint teams working with great synergy and coordination on the ground for carrying out anti-(militancy) operations in professional manner without collateral damage.”
Police said two out of four recent cases of target killings in Srinagar and Bandipora stand solved by the killing of the involved militants.
