E-Paper
Jaish commander among 4 terrorists killed, 1 captured in Jammu and Kashmir
The encounters come a day after terrorists shot dead a sarpanch in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday
Four terrorists, including a Pakistani commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were killed and another was arrested after three separate encounters in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday. The encounters took place at Ganderbal, Handwara and Pulwama areas of Kashmir, an official added.
According to the police, the first encounter broke out during a joint search and cordon operation at four-five locations in Pulwama’s Chewaklan area late on Friday. The encounters come a day after terrorists shot dead a sarpanch in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, the third killing of an elected representative in the Valley this month.
Terrorists hiding inside a local Darul Uloom fired indiscriminately upon the search party, injuring one civilian, identified as Zahoor Ahmad Shergojri. “Two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. One of the killed terrorists has been identified as a Pakistani terrorist commander Kamaal Bhai alias Jatt while the other is Aqib Mushtaq alias Usman Hyder of Karimabad Pulwama, both affiliated with JeM,” said Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar.
“He (Jatt) was active since 2018 in the Pulwama-Shopian area and was involved in several terror crimes and civilian atrocities. We had launched joint operations at 4-5 locations last night...,” he added.
In another operation in Pulwama’s Wahibugh area, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Rouf Ahmad Mir was arrested.
“Incriminating material, arms and ammunition including a pistol, two magazines, 26 rounds, three grenades and one pouch were recovered from his possession,” said Kumar.
Police spokesperson said that two more anti-terror operations were launched in Nechama Rajwar area of Handwara and Ganderbal on Saturday, in which two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed. “In the ensuing encounters at Handwara and Ganderbal, one terrorist each, affiliated with LeT, were killed and their bodies were retrieved. The killed terrorist at Handwara encounter has been identified as Suhail Ahmad Ganie of Terigam Kulgam, while the one at Ganderbal has been identified as Adil Ahmad Khan of Badarkund Ganderbal.”
The spokesperson said Khan was involved in an attack on a Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Ganderbal on October 6, 2020, along with some civilian killings in Srinagar. “He was also involved in luring the youth to join terror folds,” the spokesperson said.
Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including two AK-56 rifles, one AK short barrel rifle, one Pistol, 09 AK-magazines, one grenade, eight Pistol rounds and 32 AK rounds, have been recovered from all three encounter sites.
