Guwahati: Four terrorists were neutralised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces on Tuesday during separate anti-terrorist operations in the South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Awantipora districts.
Police along with Army (3rd RR) launched a cordon and search operation at the Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag following input regarding the presence of terrorists in the said area, according to an official statement from the police.
The hidden terrorist opened fire on the joint search party as it moved closer to the probable location, but the joint group effectively returned fire, resulting in a confrontation.
One local terrorist, Shakir Ahmad son of Habibullah, a native of Ladermud, was murdered in the ensuing encounter.
According to police records, the terrorist who was slain had ties to the outlawed terror group HM and had participated in a number of terror-related crimes, including assaults on police and security forces and crimes against people.
Similar to the above, a joint cordon and search operation was undertaken by the Police and Army (55RR) in the Khandipora area of Awantipora in response to specific information provided by the Police indicating the existence of terrorists in the area.
As the two parties moved closer to the probable location, the terrorists in concealment opened fire indiscriminately on the search team. The search team responded by firing back, which successfully sparked a confrontation.
Three terrorists were killed in the conflict that followed. One of the terrorists who were murdered was a foreign terrorist, another was a LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) terrorist commander named Mukhtar Bhat, and the third terrorist was still being identified. According to police records, all of the terrorists who were slain were connected to a number of terrorist offences, including the murder of a CRPF ASI and two RPF members. FT and Mukhtar Bhat were planning a fidayeen attack against the security force camp, according to sources.
Weapons, ammo, and incriminating materials, including an AK-47 rifle, an AK-56 rifle, and a pistol were found.
The joint troops were commended for their successful operations, which ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar described as a major victory for the army. He added that the Awantipora Police and Army stopped a significant terror attack.
In relation to the incidents, cases under the applicable legal provisions have been filed at the appropriate police stations, and additional investigations are ongoing. People are urged to work with the police until all explosive items, if any, have been removed from the encounter sites and the area has been thoroughly cleaned up.
Meanwhile, Srinagar police have detained three hybrid terrorists associated with the outlawed LeT/TRF and have found explosives in their possession.
Two hybrid terrorists were arrested by Srinagar Police at a checkpoint set up near Harnambal. They were identified as Aamir Mushtaq Dar, a resident of Iqbalabad Sozaith Budgam and Kabil Rashid, a resident of Sicop Mohalla HMT Srinagar. Two grenades and incriminating materials were found in their possession.
When questioned, they revealed the identity of a different associate, Aqib Jamal Bhat, a Sozaith Budgam native and the son of Mohd Jamal Bhat. He was also detained in an instant. Upon his disclosure, a joint team of the Srinagar Police and Army (62RR) found an IED in the Rangreth area that weighed about 10 kg and was later neutralised by the Bomb Disposal team. LeT is connected to all three of the hybrid terrorists detained.
A case FIR No. 69/2022 has been filed in Police Station Chanpora in accordance with the pertinent legal provisions.
The police are currently looking into this situation. Further information is awaited.