SRINAGAR — Three militants including a Pakistani were killed in two different anti-militancy operations in Kashmir valley on Thursday.
Two militants were killed and two army personnel were injured in an encounter between government forces and militants at Naina, Batpora village in Pulwama district of South Kashmir while as another was killed in a brief shoot-out at Hazratbal area of Srinagar city.
Reports said, a joint team of government forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) in Naina, Batpora village following the inputs about presence of militants in the area.
They said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
In the operations, three Lashkar-i-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed and they have been identified as Shahid Ahmed Khan son of Mohi-ud-din Khan resident of Batpora, Pulwama and Fayaz Sheikh son of Gh Rasool Sheikh resident of Shahpora, Ganderbal. Pakistani militant has been identified as Manzoor @ Haidar @ Hamza.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter at Naina, Batpora.
As per police records both the killed militants were categorized militants and were wanted by law in many terror crime cases.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar termed the killing of Manzoor @ Haidar a big success and said, “A police party was tracking him and his aim was to carry attack on the police guard at Hazratbal shrine and snatch his rifle. Soon after seeing the police party he fired with pistol and the fire was retaliated, leading to the killing of the militant.”
“He was a Pakistani and was active from last six months,” IGP said, adding “He was associate of top LeT/TRF Commander Mehran.”
Meanwhile, authorities snapped down mobile internet service in some parts of Pulwama and Anantnag district in South Kashmir as a precautionary measure.
Further, the train service between Banihal-Budgam section and vice-versa was also suspended in view of encounter at Naina, Batpora village in Pulwama district. — (KIMS)