Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district on Wednesday, police said, adding the operation site was “very close” to Amarnath Yatra route.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Nawapora in Mir Bazaar area of Kulgam following information about presence of terrorists there, a police spokesman said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter in which two militants were killed.
“Both the killed #terrorists have been identified as #categorised local terrorists of proscribed #terror outfit LeT. Again an important #encounter as the operation site was very close to NHW (#Yatra route),” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar tweeted.
Giving details of the operation, the spokesman said a joint party of police and army was searching suspected areas along national highway near Mir Bazaar when they came across some suspicious movement in nearby orchard.
“They cordoned the area during which the party came under terrorist fire which was retaliated and an encounter started. The operation concluded in which two terrorists have been killed. They were identified as Yasir Wani and Raees Manzoor,” the spokesman said.
Yasir, wanted in many cases of violence, was an old terrorist belonging to LeT and became active in 2020, he said, adding that Raees joined terrorist ranks just two months ago.
Meanwhile, security forces arrested an LeT hybrid terrorist and busted a terrorist hideout on his disclosure in Bandipora and also arrested one LeT terrorist associate in Budgam, the spokesman said.
In Bandipora, acting on specific input, Police alongwith 14RR and CRPF (3rdBn) arrested one hybrid terrorist of LeT at a joint checkpoint established at Papchan area of Bandipora and recovered one Chinese Grenade from his possession, the spokesman said.
He has been identified as Mehboob-ul-Inam alias Farhaan son of Inam-ul-Haq Shah resident of Nadihal Bandipora, said the spokesman.
“During interrogation/questioning, he disclosed that on the directions of proscribed terror outfit LeT he has made a hideout inside his shop at Nadihal Market where LeT terrorists namely Hyder alias Abu Muslim, Abu Ismail alias Faisal, Abu Hamza Okasha and Gulzar alias Faizan used to stay. Furthermore, he also confessed that they had kept arms and ammunition inside the said hideout,” said the spokesman.
Subsequent to the above disclosure, the said hideout was busted and huge cache of arms/ammunition including 03 AK-47 rifles, 10 AK Magazines, 380 AK live rounds, 03 Pouches, 02 YSMS Set, 02 boxes of Detonator, 26 Chargeable pencil cells, 01 Chargeable adaptor, 02 bottles of Penetrating Oil (Sprayed Lubricant), 01 Matric sheet, 02 Pak made Nylon thread, 36 boxes of High Carbon Steel bombs, 05 wire sets for IED, 02Kgs (appx) of IED explosive (RDX), 02 Quechua bags, etc. were recovered, said the spokesman, adding, the terrorists were planning to provide these arms to new recruits from north Kashmir.
“A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman further said that police in Budgam arrested one more terrorist associate of proscribed terror outfit LeT in connection with case FIR No. 116/2022 of Police Station Chadoora pertaining to busting of Narco terror funding module.
He has been identified as Showkat Ahmed Ganie alias RK son of Late Mohammad Kamal Ganie resident of Shiekhpora Wathoora, Chadoora.
