Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed in Srinagar and terrorist duo escape from Kulgam
Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were shot dead in a security operation in Zadibal area of downtown Srinagar on Sunday after repeated efforts to make them yield failed, while in Kulgam, two Jaish-e-Mohammad ultras who had taken refuge in a house in the Lokhdipora orchards during an encounter on Saturday managed to flee after the operation was called off as darkness fell.
Late on Saturday, a joint team of J&K police and CRPF’s Quick Reaction Team launched a cordon-and-search operation in Zoonimar-Gilkadal area in Zadibal based on intelligence inputs about the presence of three local Hizb terrorists holed-up in a house there.
Upon zeroing-in on the hideout, the forces, locals and kin of the trapped terrorists urged them to yield for at least two-and-half hours on Sunday morning. “We repeatedly requested the ultras to surrender and had even brought family members of two of them to the spot. Residents of the area also made announcements but the ultras didn’t relent,” IGP (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar said at a press conference on Sunday.
The terrorists opened fire and lobbed grenades at the security personnel. In the ensuing encounter, the trio was killed, IGP Kumar said. “Bodies of two of the slain terrorists — Shakoor Farooq Langoo of Srinagar and Shahid Ahmad Bhat of Anantnag — were claimed by their families while the third is yet to be identified,” he added.
“Shakoor was involved in the killing of two BSF men at Soura last month and snatching an AK-47 rifle from them,” the IGP said, adding the three were listed as Islamic State of J&K terrorists but had reportedly joined Hizbul later. “One AK-47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the spot,” he said.
The Jaish terrorist killed in Saturday’s encounter was identified as Tayab Waleed alias Imran Bhai alias Gazi Baba of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Kumar said. Security forces recovered an M-4 carbine and other ammunition from the house where they were hiding.
“For the first time in history, the terrorist leadership in Kashmir stands collapsed. In the recent months, we have been able to kill all the leaders of four major proscribed outfits — Hizbul, Lashkar, Jaish and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind,” Kumar said, adding that 106 ultras have been killed this year so far.
Referring to the gunning down of a Pak drone carrying arms and ammunition near the International Border in J&K’s Kathua district on Saturday, Kumar said, “The consignment was meant for ‘Ali Bhai’ as mentioned on the aircraft’s payload. Upon checking our records, we found that there was a Jaish terrorist active in Kulgam whose name is Furqan and code name is Ali Bhai. Perhaps the consignment was meant for him.”
“Srinagar being the central district is used by terrorists to receive funds and meet group leaders and other associates,” Kumar said.
Source: India Times
