SRINAGAR — January month of ongoing year witnessed 12 encounters in which 21 militants including eight foreigners were killed in Kashmir valley.
As per the details, 21 militants killed in January include 11 from Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit besides two cops were also killed this month.
Among 12 encounters, three were reported in Kulgam district while Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama and Shopian witnessed two encounters besides that one encounter was reported in Kupwara district.
On 01 January, a non local militant was killed in Keran sector of Kupwara district who was later identified by police as Muhammad Shabir Malik a Pakistani national.
On 03 January, LeT commander Saleem Parry of Hajin Bandipora who was active since 2016 was killed in Shalimar Srinagar.
Officials said that with Parry’s killing, Hajin hamlet of Bandipora is now militancy free as no local militant from the area is active now.
Just an hour after the killing of Saleem Parry, another encounter broke out in Gusu area of Shalimar in which one non-local militant was killed.
On 04 January, two TRF militants namely Amir Ahmad Wani from Alamgunj Shopian and Sameer Ahmad khan from Tiken Pulwama were killed in Okay area of Kulgam.
On 05 January, three jaish militants including two non-locals and one local namely Owais Ahmad of Ashmander Pulwama was killed in an encounter in Chandgam Pulwama.
On 07 January, three Jaish militants including two foreigners and one local namely Waseem Ahmad from Nowgam Srinagar were killed in Chadoora area of Budgam district.
On 11 January, two Al-badr militants identified as Imad Muzaffar Wani resident of Arigam Pulwama and Abdul Rashid Thoker resident of Hassanpora, were killed in an encounter in Hassanpora Kulgam.
On 13 January, one non-local militant identified as Babar Bhai and one SOG personnel SgCt Rohid Chib were killed in an encounter in Pariwan area of Kulgam.
Three army soldiers and two civilians were also injured during the encounter.
On 22 January, two LeT (TRF) militants identified as Sameer Ahmad Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah resident of Dhangam Shopian and Rayees Ahmad Mir son of Muhammad Ashraf Mir of Takiya, Wahgam Pulwama were killed in an encounter in Kilbal Shopian.
On 27 January, Militants managed to give slip to forces, however, three soldiers were injured in an exchange of fire in Check Nowgam area of Shopian district.
On 30 January, a militant of LeT identified as Bilal Ahmad Khan resident of Chill Brass Khansahab was killed in an encounter in Tilsar Charar-e-Shareef area of Budgam district.
On 30 January, four Jaish-e-Mohammad militants identified as Zahid Ahmad Wani @Uzair (a top commander) resident of Karimabad Pulwama, foreign militant Kafeel Bhari @Chotu resident of Pakistan, Waheed Ahmad Reshi resident of Khadermoh Kakapora and Inayat Ahmad Mir resident of Naira Pulwama who according to police was a hybrid militant were killed in an encounter in Naira Pulwama.
On 29 January, a cop Ali Mohammad Ganie son of Ghulam Qadir Ganie was killed by suspected militants outside his residence in Hassanpora area of Anantnag district. — (KNO)