Srinagar: Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani national, were killed during an overnight encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of south Kashmir in which an Army soldier also lost his life, police said on Thursday.
They said three security forces personnel were also injured in the gunfight.
With the death of the three JeM militants in Anantnag, the number of militants killed in two gunfights, which broke out in south Kashmir on Wednesday night, has risen to six.
In the Kulgam encounter, three militants were killed.
“Upon receiving information about the presence of terrorists at Nowgam Shahabad in Anantnag district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation on Wednesday night,” a police official said.
“During the searches, the terrorists opened fire and the security forces retaliated, leading to an encounter,” he said, adding “in the exchange of fire, three terrorists were killed”.
Three Army soldiers and a policeman were also injured in the gunfight and were taken to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital. However, an Army soldier — Sepoy Jasbir Singh — succumbed to the injuries, the official said.
A police spokesman in a statement said slain militants were affiliated with the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit and identified them as Sultan alias Rayees alias Mavia (a foreigner), Nisar Ahmad Khanday, resident of Dudwangan Kapran, and Altaf Ahmad Shah, resident of Nathipora Dooru.
“As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Several terror crime cases were registered against them including attack on family of a police personnel at Kokagund in which his wife and daughter received injuries,” police spokesman said.
A joint press conference was held at 2-Sector Hqrs Wuzan along with GoC 15 Corps Lt. Gen. DP Pandey, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that, “the killed terrorists — Altaf and Pakistani terrorist Sultan alias Rayees alias Mavia along with another terrorist Suhail Rather were involved in the gruesome attack at Zewan Srinagar, in which three policemen were killed and 11 personnel were injured.”
As already reported, three militants were killed in another encounter in Kulgam district on late Wednesday evening.
Police today said that in the Mirhama Kulgam encounter, a Pakistani national was among three JeM militants who were killed. The other two were locals.
A police spokesman identified the slain as Mohammad Shafi Dar, resident of Tral, and Uzair Ahmad resident of Mirhama. He said both were C category of militant JeM outfit.
“One foreign (Pakistani) terrorist Shahid @ Shahzaid who was listed among top most wanted list of terrorists in J&K was also killed in the encounter,” police spokesman said.
Police said incriminating material including two AK-47 rifles and one M4 rifle along with ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
