SRINAGAR (KIMS) — A top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group is among three militants killed, while four security personnel were also injured in two separate encounters in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday.
The first encounter broke out between security forces and militants in the Khanyar area of Downtown Srinagar on Saturday morning after a joint team of security forces, including the J&K Police and CRPF, launched a Cordon-and-Search Operation (CASO) in Khanyar, following inputs about the presence of militants in the area. As the joint team of security forces approached the suspected spot, militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggered an encounter.
In this encounter, a Pakistani militant identified as Usman Bhai @ Chota Waleed, a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group, was killed.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, termed the killing of Usman as a huge success for the security forces, saying, “He was involved in the killing of Inspector Masroor Ahmad.”
Inspector Masroor was critically injured when he was shot by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant while playing cricket in Downtown Srinagar on October 29. He was rushed to SKIMS Soura and later airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced treatment, where he passed away on December 7, 2023.
Four security personnel, including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and two policemen from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, were injured in the encounter. They are stable and are undergoing treatment at the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.
In a separate encounter, security forces killed two militants in the Halkan Gali forest area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir.
The second encounter broke out when a joint team of security forces, including the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF, launched a Cordon-and-Search Operation (CASO) in Halkan Gali forest area based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
The militants killed in this encounter have been identified as Zahid Ahmed Reshi of Hassanpora, Bijbehara and Arbaz Ahmed Mir of Qaimoh, Kulgam.
Both the militants were involved in a series of attacks including the attacks on non-local labourers, police said.
The second encounter broke out when a joint team of security forces, including the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF, launched a Cordon-and-Search Operation (CASO) in Halkan Gali forest area based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
The Indian Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in a post on X said, “Based on specific inputs, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF in Halkan Gali, Anantnag. On November 2, suspicious movement near Halkan Gali was observed and challenged by vigilant troops, as a result, militants opened indiscriminate fire.”
“The troops effectively retaliated, resulting in the elimination of two militants. The operation is ongoing,” they added.
Later, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi visited the injured jawans from the police and CAPF who were injured during an encounter with militants in Khanyar Srinagar.
During his visit, the IGP expressed genuine concern for their recovery and inquired about their well-being, acknowledging their vital contributions to maintaining peace and security in the region.
He also offered words of encouragement and assured the injured personnel of full support throughout their recovery process. — (KIMS)