SRINAGAR: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed and one The Resistance Front (TRF) militant was arrested in two separate anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on September 26.
“A contact with two hiding terrorists was established on the morning of September 26 at Watrina, Bandipora. The operation was stopped and frequent appeals were made to the terrorists to surrender. However, they refused to surrender and were eventually killed in the encounter,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said.
The police identified the slain militants as Abid Rashid Dar alias Haqani and Azad Ahmed Shah.
“Dar was a Pakistan-trained terrorist who had crossed the Wagah border in April 2018 and had infiltrated back in 2019. He had been tasked with recruitment and running the ranks of Lashkar in north Kashmir,” IGP Kumar said.
He said Dar and Shah, along with foreign terrorists Usman and Sajad alias Haider, were involved in the killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari and his family last year.
“Usman and Haider were eliminated in Kreeri on September 17. The remaining militants involved in the killings were eliminated on Sunday. With this, the investigation of the case stands closed,” the IGP said.
The police said it recovered two AK-47 rifles, one pistol and other incriminating material seized at the encounter site.
Meanwhile, the Jammu police said it arrested a TRF militant near the railway station in the city on September 26.
“On the basis of credible inputs about the movement of Kashmir-based terrorist in Jammu, special checkpoints at different locations were set up. One Scooty driver dropped a pillion [rider] at some distance about 50-60 metres behind at a checkpoint and and fled away. The pillion [rider] was chased and was overpowered. He disclosed his identity as Sheikh Sunain Yousuf alias Raja alias Sultan from Shopian’s Gadapora,” police sources said.
The police said one Star Pistol loaded with seven cartridges was recovered from him. “Yousuf is an active terrorist of TRF and had come to Jammu for a specific task, which was not yet conveyed to him by his handlers. He had come to Jammu on directions of handler Ahmed khalid alias Hamza alias Haqparast, in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the police said.
The police said the questioning of the arrested terrorist was going on. “A hunt has been launched to nab two of his associates who provided support to him for reconnaissance,” the police said.