Srinagar: Three militants, including a top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were killed and two security personnel injured in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, police said.
Personnel of JK Police, 9 RR and 18 Bn CRPF launched a cordon and search operation early Friday morning in Nagnad-Chimmer area of Kulgam district following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
The hiding militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated, he said.
Three militants were killed and two security personnel injured in the gunbattle, the official said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar at a press conference said one of the militants has been identified as Waleed Bhai, a commander of JeM and an IED expert, while the identity of the other two was being ascertained.
“Waleed Bhai had escaped from the cordon (of the security forces) four times so far. He was one among the 12 most wanted militant commanders,” he said.
“Today’s encounter is a huge success for the security forces as Waleed Bhai was active for the past one and a half years and was operating in south Kashmir areas, including Qazigund highway stretch,” he said, adding that the security forces have recovered a US made M-4 carbine from him.
Asked whether there were more IED experts of JeM alive, Kumar said, “There is one more Pakistani militant whose name is Adnan Bhai alias Lamboo Bhai, who is also an IED expert of Jaish. So, the IED attack threat remains.”
He said the security forces will track and neutralise all of them.
