Top JeM commander among two militants killed in Pulwama gunfight

Srinagar, Dec 1: A top commander of Jash-e-Mohammad, who according to police was an IED expert, was killed along with a “foreign” militant in an encounter with joint team of police, army and CRPF in Pulwama district, officials said on wednesday.
“On a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Qasbayar area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, (army’s) 44RR and 183 (Battalion) CRPF in the area,’ a police spokesperson said in a statement.
During the search operation, he said, as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender. However, he said, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter.
Two militants JeM were killed in the ensuing encounter, he said. The killed militants have been identified as Yasir Parray, “an IED expert”, of Qasbayar Pulwama. and a foreign militant Abu Furkan alias Ali Bhai of Pakistan.
“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were part of groups involved in planning and executing attacks on security establishments and civilian killings,” he said.
Yasir Parray figured among the list of most wanted militants operating in the valley as he was a highly trained IED expert, the spokesman said. Besides other cases, he was also instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join militant folds, the spokesperson said.
He said that Yasir Parray was also involved in carrying out an IED attack at Arihal in which two Army Jawans of 2RR were killed and 17 others injured.
He was also involved in an attack on Police Naka at Prichoo Pulwama in which head constable Anoop Singh of IRP 10th battalion was killed and injuries to other police personnel, the spokesperson said.
“He was also involved in barring people from participating in democratic activities, besides issuing death threats to DDCs, BDCs, Panchs, Sarpanchs, other political workers and police personnel.”
Besides, he said, Abu Furkan was active in Kashmir valley since 2018 figuring among the list of top 60 militants and used to operate in Pulwama and Pakharpora area of Budgam.
“He was involved in various (militant) activities, recruitment of local youth into JeM folds and mentoring active (militants) of JeM,” the spokesperson said, adding, “He was responsible for providing capabilities on fabrication of IEDs.” Moreover, Furkan along with Yasir Parray were the main conspirators of Avandgund Rajpora VB-IED in which 50Kg IED laden Santro Vehicle was recovered and defused by Police and security forces, the spokesperson said. “They were also involved in killing of a civilian Azad Ahmad Dar resident of Kangan Pulwama.”
The spokesperson said two AK-series rifles, as many pistols were recovered from the site of encounter. (GNS)