Four militants, including a top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander, were killed and another captured alive in separate encounters in Kashmir on Friday.
Police said these encounters took place at Pulwama, Ganderbal, and Handwara areas of Kashmir after security forces launched joint search operation.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the Pakistani terrorist killed in Pulwama encounter was identified as JeM commander Kamaal Bhai alias Jatt.
“He was active since 2018 in Pulwama and Shopian and had involvement in several terror crimes and civilian atrocities. We had launched joint operations at four to five locations on Friday night. So far, two terrorists of JeM, including one Pakistani, have been killed in Pulwama and one terrorist of LeT eliminated each in Ganderbal and Handwara,” he said, adding that one terrorist was arrested.
A police spokesperson said in a joint cordon and search operation was launched in Chewaklan village of Pulwama. As security forces moved towards local darul uloom, militants hiding inside fired indiscriminately upon the search party in which one civilian, Zahoor Ahmad Shergojri, received a gunshot injury, the spokesperson said, adding that he was later shifted to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.
“Two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. One of the terrorists has been identified as a Pakistani terrorist commander Kamaal Bhai alias Jatt while the other terrorist is Aqib Mushtaq alias Usman Hyder of Karimabad in Pulwama. Both of them were affiliated with JeM,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. One of the terrorists has been identified as a Pakistani terrorist commander Kamaal Bhai alias Jatt while the other terrorist is Aqib Mushtaq alias Usman Hyder of Karimabad in Pulwama. Both of them were affiliated with JeM,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}In another anti-terrorist operation carried out by forces in Wahibugh area of Pulwama, the spokesperson said, Rouf Ahmad Mir of Parigam was arrested.
“Incriminating material, arms and ammunition including a pistol, two magazines, 26 rounds, three grenades and a pouch were recovered from his possession,” he added.
Two more anti-militancy operations were launched in Nechama Rajwar and Ganderbal by forces. “As the joint search parties approached towards suspected spots, the hiding terrorists started firing on the security personnel which was retaliated, leading to encounters at both the places. In the ensuing gunfight at Handwara and Ganderbal, terrorists affiliated with LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved. The terrorist neutralised in Handwara encounter has been identified as Suhail Ahmad Ganie of Terigam in Kulgam, while the one eliminated at Ganderbal has been identified as Adil Ahmad Khan of Badarkund,” the police spokesperson said.
As per the police, Adil was involved in the attack on Ganderbal BJP vice-president on October 6, 2020, besides civilian killings in Srinagar. He also facilitated grenade attacks at Towheed Chowk and Chappargund in Ganderbal. “He was used to motivate youth to join terror folds,” the spokesperson said, adding that from three encounter sites, two AK-56 rifles, one AK short-barrel rifle, one pistol, nine AK magazines, one grenade, eight pistol rounds and 32 AK rounds have been recovered.