Srinagar: Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including the oldest surviving terrorist, were killed in an encounter with security forces near the route of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, a police spokesman said.
The killed terrorists were identified as Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi/Mansoor ul Haq, Mohd Rafiq Drangay and Roshan Zameer Tantray aliasAqib, the spokesman said.
Giving details and background of the encounter, the spokesman said that on May 05,2022, Anantnag Police alongwith Army (19RR) arrested a terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM identified as Mohd Ishfaq Shergojri resident of Nowgam Verinag during a CASO at Kokernag area of Anantnag.
“During the sustained interrogation of the arrested terrorist, leads were developed and several CASOs were conducted in various areas of Anantnag,” he said.
He said that one of such joint cordon and search operation launched by Police and Army (3rd RR) in forest area of Sirchan Top (East of Batkot Pahalgam) area of Anantnag turned into encounter.
“During the operation, as the joint party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorists fired on the joint party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 03 terrorists of proscribed terror outfit HM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” said the spokesman, identifying them as Mohd Ashraf Khan aleas Ashraf Molvi, Mohd Rafiq Drangay and Roshan Zameer Tantray alias Aqib.
He said that as per police records, all the three were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SF and civilian atrocities.
“As per police records, the killed terrorist Mohd Ashraf Khan was the oldest surviving terrorist of Hizb and figured among the list of most wanted terrorists after recycling in year 2013. He had a long history of terror crime cases which include attacks on Police/SF and civilian atrocities. He was involved in killings of Ct Imtiyaz Ahmad at Bus Stand Anantnag on 09/09/2017, Mohd Saleem Dar resident of Larkipora, Fatehpora Anantnag on 02/04/2020, ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara on 22/12/2021, HC Ali Mohd Ganie at Hasanpora Tabeela on 29/01/2022.
“Besides, he was also well trained in fabricating and planting of IEDs as he had crossed over to PoK in year 1999 to get illegal arms training and join terror folds. He was also instrumental in reviving the terror folds of Hizb in Anantnag by recruiting the gullible youth into terror folds. Moreover, on his directions terrorists killed Sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar and his wife Jawahara Begum at Lal Chowk Anantnag on 09/08/2021,” said the spokesman.
About Roshan Zameer Tantray, the spokesman said that he was active since year 2018 and involved in several terror crime cases including killings of Mohd Saleem Dar resident of Larkipora, Fatehpora Anantnag on 02/04/2020, ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara on 22/12/2021, HC Ali Mohd Ganie at Hasanpora Tabeela on 29/01/2022. He was also involved in killing of a truck driver namely Narayan Dutt resident of Sara Kotla Katra Reasi who was loading apple in his truck bearing registration No. JK02AQ-6571 at Fruit Mandi Kanalwan.
“Mohd Rafiq Drangay was active since year 2019 and involved in several terror crime cases including killings of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara on 22/12/2021 and HC Ali Mohd Ganie at Hasanpora Tabeela on 29/01/2022,” said the spokesman.
He said that incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. In this connection, Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.
Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated joint team for neutralizing the most wanted terrorists and conducting operation in a professional manner without any collateral damage. He also termed this operation as a major success as the site of operation is close to Yatra route which indicates that the killed terrorists were eyeing to target Amarnath Yatra-2022, the spokesman said.
‘Hybrid’ militant, associates arrested from Bla, Budgam
Security forces on Friday arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ‘hybrid’ militant and his associate in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession, police said.
“On specific information regarding movement of terrorists, a checkpoint was established by security forces near Hilltop Cheradari in Baramulla,” a police spokesman said.
During checking, two suspicious persons tried to flee the spot on noticing the joint party of the forces. However, they were apprehended, he said.
The arrested duo has been identified as Ashiq Hossain Lone, a resident of Hyder Mohalla Ushkara Baramulla, and Uzair Amin Ganie, a resident of Kanthbagh Baramulla.
During their search, incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including a pistol, a magazine, eight live rounds, two hand grenades and two UBGL grenades, were recovered from their possession, the spokesman said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested duo is linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and had obtained these illegal arms and ammunition through some foreign terrorists with the intention to carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla and its adjacent areas, he added.
A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Budgam Police alongwith 62RR and 43Bn CRPF arrested two terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit AGuH in Huroo area of Budgam, the police spokesman said.
They have been identified as Amir Manzoor Budoo son of Manzoor Ahmad Budoo resident of Dangerpora Razwan and Shahid Rasool Ganaie son of Gh Rasool Ganaie resident of Puttermulla Safapora Ganderbal.
“Incriminating materials including ammunition 01 hand grenade and 25 AK-47 rounds have been recovered from their possession. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 134/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Budgam and further investigation has been taken up,” said the spokesman.
He said that a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Baramulla and further investigation is in progress.
