Guwahati: The Kulgam encounter resulted in the neutralisation of two terrorists connected to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) , officials said.
The two terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Ganie and Mohammad Asif Wani, and ADGP Kashmir has been informed that they also had two AK-47 weapons and ammunition on them.
Abu Huraira, a member of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was previously classified as a category A terrorist by an army official. In a cooperative operation with local security forces in the village of Welsbatapura in the Kulgam area of Jammu & Kashmir, the Indian Army neutralised the terrorist.
“The terrorist was identified as Abu Huraira, a resident of Pakistan. He was a category A terrorist. He was terrorizing locals, coercing them, and trying to garner support for ramping up recruitment in the shallow area in South Kashmir”, said Brig AS Pundir, Commander 2 sector RR.
Deputy SP Govind said, “Yesterday, we were able to hold militants in an area. Swift action was taken. During the op, militants fired several rounds. We attempted to evacuate civilians when militants threw a grenade at them safely. 2 civilians & a soldier was injured. All 3 now stable”.
On receiving specific intelligence about the presence of suspected terrorists in Kulgam, the Indian Army, J-K Police, and CRPF conducted a joint cordon and search operation in the region at around 1:45 p.m. on September 26, according to PRO (Defence), Srinagar.
The suspected group of residences in the village was quickly surrounded by a perimeter set up by the security personnel. The Security Forces began removing the local population to a safe area after suspecting one to two terrorists inside one of the houses. The terrorist opened fire indiscriminately targeting bystanders, as was seen in past operations as well, in an effort to seize a window of opportunity to flee.
The forces accelerated the evacuation process while pinning the terrorist with precise fire as they became aware of the threat to civilian life and disregarded their own safety, according to the PRO. According to the official, an officer was shot while trying to pull bystanders out of the fighting zone. He was then sent to Srinagar’s base hospital.
“Two civilians also sustained splinter injuries when the terrorist targeted them by lobbing grenades. One of them has been evacuated to 92 Base Hospital,” said the PRO.
“On positive confirmation of no civilian presence around the target house, Army conducted a deliberate operation to neutralise the terrorist. The terrorist was subsequently neutralised and has been identified by JKP as Abu Hurrarah, a resident of Pakistan and a hardcore member of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist organisation. One AK series rifle, one pistol, grenades and other warlike stores have been recovered,” the official added.