LeT commander among 4 militants killed, one arrested in separate gunfights

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Slain commander identified as Zahid Tiger, cousin of Hizb commander Sameer Tiger, Ammunition recovered from slain militants

Jahangeer Ganai

PULWAMA: A top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit was among four militants killed in two separate encounters in Pulwama and Kulgam districts on Saturday while as one militant was capture alive.

Officials told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two militants were killed in Kulgam in the morning while as two militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama on Saturday evening.

An official from Kulgam said that acting on a specific inputs about the presence of militants at Chinigam village of Frisal Tehsil in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, joint team of forces including army’s 1 RR and Kulgam police launched search operation on late night on Friday.

“As joint team of forces approached towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon forces which was retaliated triggering an encounter,” he said. “During exchange of fire one local and a foreign militant were killed were killed.”

A police spokesman told KNO that the slain militants were identified as Tarriq Ahmed Mir of Zangalpora, Devsar, Kulgam and a foreigner Sameer Bhai alias Usman, a resident of Punjab Pakistan, who was a A-category militant. “Both the slain militants were affiliated with Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit,” he said.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that an US made M-4 carbine gun and a pistol were recovered from the slain militants.

In another encounter, an official from Pulwama said that on Saturday afternoon a cordon and search operation was launched in Dadoora Kangan area of Pulwama district by joint team of forces including 55 RR after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

“As forces approached towards suspected spot, militants fired upon them, which was retaliated triggering an encounter,” he said. “During a brief exchange of fire two militants were killed.”

Jammu and Kashmir police said that one of the two slain militants was identified as Lashkar-e-Toibas top commander Zahid Nazir Bhat alias Zahid Tiger. “A big success for police and security forces,” police said. Zahid Tiger was the cousin brother of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Tiger, who was killed on April 30 in an encounter at Drabgam area of Pulwama district. Zahid joined militancy days after Sameer’s killing. Police said that arms and ammunition including two AK-47 riffles were recovered from the slain militants.

The other slain militant was identified as Adnan, who is believed to be a foreigner. A police officials said that one militant was captured alive from the encounter site at Pulwama, who was identified as Firdous Ahmed Tak, a resident of Doda district of Jammu.