Sheikh Danish
Srinagar, Jan 3: Two militants including the top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander were killed in two separate brief shootouts at Shalimar area of Srinagar on Monday, police said.
The slain LeT commander was identified as Muhammad Saleem Parray of Bandipora, who was active since 2016 while another was identified as a foreign militant.
Talking to reporters, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar said that two militants were cornered in Shalimar area of Srinagar. “They opened fire at the forces and initially one militant Saleem Parray was killed in a retaliatory action,” Kumar said.
“Srinagar police cornered Saleem Paray and he opened fire. In the retaliatory firing, he was killed,” IGP Kashmir said, adding that the killing of Parray is a big success for police as he was involved in dozens of killings. “In 2016 agitation, Saleem Parray had killed 12 civilians by slitting their throats,” he said, adding that Parray was killed in an encounter at Shalimar garden in Srinagar. He said Parray’s aide was killed in Gusu area and he was identified as a foreign militant. “Two militants were killed in two successive operations in Shalimar,” the IGP said.
A police spokesman in a statement, said that Police along with security forces neutralized two militants including top most wanted and dreaded militant Saleem Parray of Hajin in two separate successive operations at Shalimar area in the outskirts of Srinagar city.
“Based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militant in Harwan/Shalimar area, a search operation was launched by Srinagar Police and CRPF in the said area. During the search operation, the search party was fired upon indiscriminately by hiding militant, which was effectively retaliated leading to a brief shootout and elimination of a dreaded militant Saleem Parray, linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT,” the spokesman said. “Soon after the said operation, another operation was carried out by Police, CRPF along with Army in Gasu area under PS Zakoora. During the said operation, one foreign militant identified as Hafiz alais Hamza of Pakistan linked with LeT was killed. The spokesman said that both the slain were involved in series of crimes including civilian killings, attacks on forces and political leaders.
