Three terrorists killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir

Police and army launched a joint operation at Naina Batpora village of Pulwama district, based on inputs about terrorists’ presence there, and killed two terrorists in the encounter

Three terrorists including a top TRF/Lashkar commander were killed in two separate encounters at South Kashmir and in Srinagar city on Thursday, J&K police said.

Special operations Group (SOG) police personnel outside the shrine of Hazratbal during an encounter in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Speaking to reporters, IGP Vijay Kumar said Police and Army launched a joint operation at Naina Batpora village of Pulwama district based on inputs indicating the presence of terrorists in the area. Two terrorists were killed in the operation, that turned into an encounter, he said.

“We have taken every precaution to ensure that no damage happens to the mosque. Both the militants have been neutralised,” Kumar said.

Police said both the terrorists were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. “ Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered,” Kumar said.

Earlier in the day, another terrorist was killed in an encounter outside the Dargah Hazrarbal shrine. Police identief the deceased terrorist as top militant commander Manzoor Haider, an ‘A category’ militant.

IGP Kumar termed the killing of Haider a big success. “Killed terrorist identified as Manzoor alias Haider alias Hamza, a Pakistani national, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF. He was associate of top LeT/TRF commander Mehran. His killing is a big success,” Kumar said.