Seven terrorists killed in separate encounters with the Indian security forces in Kashmir

Seven terrorists, including an arrested terror suspect, were killed during three separate encounters with the security forces in the last 24 hours, the police said today.

According to police, four terrorists, including Showkat Ahmad Sheikh who was arrested on terror charges, were killed during an encounter in Lolab area of Kupwara district.

Earlier this month, police had said that Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Sedow village in Shopian district, was arrested along with another accused for their involvement in an IED blast on June 2. After arrests, police had said the blast case was solved and the mastermind behind the attack was also identified.

Police on Sunday said that based on disclosures of arrested terrorist, they launched an operation and carried out searches at a terrorist hideout in Lolab area.

“During the search of a hideout, the hiding terrorists opened fire at the joint search party, the officials then retaliated leading to an encounter in which one terrorist was killed. The arrested terrorist also got trapped” said police.

In the ensuing encounter, one more terrorist was killed last evening.

In another encounter in Kulgam, police said two local recruits of Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed, and incrementing material was recovered from the site.

The third encounter took place in Pulwama where a terrorist was killed during an overnight operation at Chatpora village, officials said.

Police said 114 terrorists have been killed since January this year, which is more than the double of terrorists killed during the corresponding period last year.

Among 114 terrorists killed this year, 32 were foreign nationals, officials said.

Vijay Kumar, Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir said counter-terrorist operations, especially against foreign terrorists, will continue across the Valley. He said the terrorists cannot deter the efforts of the security forces to bring peace in Kashmir.

“By targeting innocent civilians including women & kids, unarmed policemen & outside labourers, terrorists can’t deter our efforts to bring peace in the valley. Our counter-terrorist operations will continue simultaneously in all 3 regions of Kashmir, especially against foreign terrorists,” Mr Kumar said.

Source: NDTV