Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 15: A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed in a brief gunfight in Charsoo area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said Tuesday.
A police official said that based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of (militant) in village Charsoo of Awnatipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, (army’s) 42RR and 130 battalion CRPF in the area.
“As the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militant) fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” he said, adding that “In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed who was identified as Owais Raja son of Mohammad Ramzan Dar of Subhanpora.”
Police said that the slain was a categorized (militant) of Laskar-e-Toiba. He was a part of group involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SF and civilian atrocities.”
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar termed the operation as “very important” stating that the area was situated very close to (highway) and threat was imminent.
Police said that arms and ammunition including 01 AK-56 rifle, 03 AK Magazines and 80 AK rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.
8 militants killed in six encounters in past one week: Today’s encounter was sixth in last one week in J&K in which eight militants were killed. On, March 10 two LeT militants 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 were killed in Naina Batpora Pulwama.
“On same day, a foreign militant namely Manzoor alias Haider alias Hamzah was killed in a shootout in Hazratbal Srinagar, the officials said, adding on March 12, two JeM militants including foreign commander Kamaal Bhai alias Jatt and another commander Aqib Mushtaq alias Usman Hyder son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat resident of Karimabad, Pulwama were killed in an encounter in Chewa-Kalan area of Pulwama.”
The officials said that on same day, LeT militant identified as Suhail Ahmad Ganie son of Gulzar Ahmad resident of Terigam Kulgam was killed in an encounter in Nechama Rajwar area of Handwara in Kupwara district.
On same day, LeT commander identified as Adil Ahmad Khan son of Abdul Ahad resident of Badarkund Ganderbal was killed in an encounter in Nuner hamlet of Ganderbal district. (KNO)
