Srinagar: A Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Harwan area of the city in the early hours of Sunday, police said.
“Based on specific input generated by Srinagar Police regarding presence of a terrorist in Theed Harwan area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, CRPF and Army in the said area,” police spokesperson said in a statement here.
He said during the search operation, “as the presence of the trapped terrorist was ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter, during which the trapped terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter,” police spokesperson, adding he has been identified as Safiulla @Abu Khalid, @Shawaz, resident of Karachi Pakistan.
As per police records, the spokesperson said “the killed terrorist Saifulla was a categorized terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT.
“He had infiltrated in year 2016 via Bandipora sector and later on sneaked into District Srinagar on the directions of Pak-based Commanders of LeT outfit for intensifying terrorist related activities in District Pulwama/Srinagar/Ganderbal/Budgam,” he said.
The police spokesperson also said that Saifulla was working as “Group Commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT” in District Srinagar as he was operating earlier in District Srinagar and was familiar with the topography of Srinagar and Pulwama districts and its outskirts.
“He has also been involved in receiving new groups of FTs after infiltration,” police spokesperson said.
As per police records, the spokesperson said “the killed terrorist had a history of terror crime cases and was wanted by law for his complicity in terror crime cases which include attacks on police/SFs and civilian killings.
“He along with his associates was involved in attack on Army convoy on NHW Bemina By-pass Srinagar near JVC Hospital Srinagar on April 01, 2017, resulting in injuries to three Army soldiers. He was also mastermind behind the attack carried out by his associates at Lawaypora Srinagar in which two security personnel were killed and one AK-47 rifle was also snatched,” spokesperson said.
He was also involved in an attack on police party of PS Bandipora at Gulshan Chowk Bandipora in which two police personnel were killed. “Besides, attacks on police/SF he was also involved in civilian killings which include killing of BJP President Waseem Bari, his brother and father on July 08, 2020,” police spokesperson said.
“Moreover, he was also mastermind behind the revival of terror folds by luring the gullible youth and a number of fresh recruitments of local youth into terrorist ranks. He was also instrumental in reactivation of hardcore terrorist associates of LeT outfit in the areas of District Srinagar and District Pulwama/PD Awantipora,” police spokesperson said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-47 rifle, three magazines and one grenade were recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
He said IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint team “for conducting successful operation without any collateral damage”.
“Killed #terrorist identified as Saifulla @ Abu Khalid @ Shawaz, resident of Karachi (#Pakistan), affiliated with proscribed #terror outfit LeT. He infiltrated in 2016 & was active in general area of Harwan & involved in several terror crimes,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said on Twitter.
He said three Pakistani militants have been killed in Srinagar city in the last 33 days.
“They were involved in several terror crimes including attacks on Police/SFs & civilian killings. It shows that Pakistan is hell-bent on disturbing peace in Valley especially in Srinagar City,” the IGP Kashmir said.
Meanwhile, Anantnag Police and troops of 1 RR arrested a “terrorist associate” identified as Feroz Ahmad Zargar alias Kamraan, resident of Gratbal Quimoh Kulgam and recovered one Chinese pistol alongwith magazine and other ammunition from his possession, police spokesperson said.
Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law regarding both the incidents and investigations have been initiated.
Police spokesperson also said that people are requested to cooperate with police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
