Srinagar: Two Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed while a hybrid militant and an associate of the outfit were arrested on Wednesday, police said.
“Acting on specific input regarding the presence of (militants) in Nowpora, Mir Bazaar area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army’s 9RR in the area,’ a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militants) fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” he said, adding, “Later on CRPF’s 18 battalion also joined the operation.”
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two local LeT militants were killed. They have been identified as Yasir Wani of Wangund, Kulgam and Raees Manzoor resident of Chotipora, Shopian.
As per police records, he said, both were categorized militants and “part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SF.”
“IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint teams for conducting the operation in professional manner without collateral damage. He also termed the operation as a big success as the operation site was very close to National Highway (Yatra route),” he said.
One AK-47 rifle and one Pistol were recovered from the site of encounter, he said.
Meanwhile, in Bandipora, acting on specific input, Police alongwith Army’s 14 RR and CRPF’s 3rd battalion at a joint checkpoint established at Papchan area of Bandipora arrested one hybrid militant of LeT alongwith one Chinese Grenade which he had kept inside dicky of his Scooty (JK15A-0839), the spokesperson said.
He has been identified as Mehboob-ul-Inam alias Farhaan son of Inam-ul-Haq Shah of Nadihal Bandipora.
“During interrogation/questioning, he disclosed that on the directions of LeT he has made a hideout inside his shop at Nadihal Market where LeT (militants) namely Hyder alias Abu Muslim, Abu Ismail alias Faisal, Abu Hamza Okasha and Gulzar alias Faizan used to stay,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Furthermore, he also confessed that they had kept arms and ammunition inside the hideout, which they were planning to provide to new recruits from North Kashmir particularly youths from District Bandipora to strengthen the LeT Cadre and to enhance (militant) related activities.”
Subsequent to the disclosure, he said, the hideout was busted and huge cache of arms/ammunition including three AK-47 rifles, 10 AK Magazines, 380 AK live rounds, three pouches, 2 YSMS Set, 2 boxes of Detonator, 26 Chargeable pencil cells, 1 Chargeable adaptor, 2 bottles of Penetrating Oil (Sprayed Lubricant), 1 Matric sheet, 2 Pak made Nylon thread, 36 boxes of High Carbon Steel bombs, 5 wire sets for IED, 2Kgs (appx) of IED explosive (RDX), 2 Quechua bags, etc. were recovered. “A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress.”
Moreover, he said, Police arrested one more militant associate of LeT in connection with case FIR No. 116/2022 of Police Station Chadoora pertaining to busting of Narco militancy funding module. He has been identified as Showkat Ahmed Ganie alias RK son of Late Mohammad Kamal Ganie of Shiekhpora Wathoora, Chadoora.
“During the investigation of the case, it came to fore that the arrested associate was also involved in providing logistic support to LeT by distributing proceeds of narcotics to active (militants) and (militant) operatives of the outfit,” he said, adding, “Further investigation into the case is going on.” (GNS)
