Srinagar: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, who police said were involved in the recent killing of a Sarpanch in Khonmoh, were killed in an encounter with security forces on the outskirts of the city here on Wednesday.
The police and troops of 50 RR launched a cordon and search operation in Nowgam area early morning after receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, police spokesperson said in a statement here.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding terrorists fired upon the forces, who retaliated. “Three catagorised terrorists were killed in the ensuing encounter, and their bodies were retrieved from the encounter site,” police spokesperson said, while identifying the slain as Adil Nabi Teli, resident of Galchibal Chandhara, Pampore; Shakir Ahmad Tantray, resident of Ronipora Shopian, and Yasir Ahmad Wagay, resident of Kujer Frisal, Kulgam.
As per police records, the spokesperson said “the killed terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) and active since year 2021. They were part of groups involved in several terror crimes cases including attack on police/security forces and civilian atrocities.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that “all the three killed terrorists were involved in the recent killing of Sarpanch Sameer Ahmad Bhat at Khanmoh Srinagar. Besides, they were planning to attack security forces on the national highway.”
Terming the operation as a ‘big success’, IGP said, “This module was targeting Panchayat representatives as their masters don’t want grassroots democracy to flourish here.”
He said police have busted all the modules involved in the killing of Sarpanchs. “We also busted the module involved in the killing of a CRPF man and a TA soldier in Budgam. Only once case was pending, that of Sarpanch Sameer, and with today’s encounter, that too stands solved,” he said, adding that adequate steps have been taken to ensure safe accommodations to Sarpanchs and Panchs in Kashmir.
Police spokesperson also said that “Adil Teli along with his associates was also involved in killing of Inspector Pervaiz Ahmad Dar at Menganwari Nowgam on June 22, 2021; killing of Javaid Ahmed Malik at Lurgam Tral. Besides, he was also involved in grenade attack on joint party of police and CRPF at Barbarshah Srinagar in which one civilian was killed and three civilians were injured.”
Spokesperson said “Shakir Ahmad and Yasir Ahmad were also involved in several terror crime cases including killing of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara, Anantnag on December 22, 2021.”
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK rifle, three AK magazines, 14 AK rounds, two pistols, four pistol magazines, six pistol rounds were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, police spokesperson said.
In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area at the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” police spokesperson said.
