Two militants were killed in a swift operation of the security forces in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on Tuesday evening. Earlier, one civilian died and two persons, including a soldier, were injured in the nightlong anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Tuesday.
“This encounter is important for two aspects: one, it is the same group of terrorists which escaped from Watnad encounter on April 16 this in which we lost one soldier. Two, the encounter site is very close to the national highway and an imminent threat to the highway as well as yatra has been neutralised,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
The duo was encircled during an operation at Kreeri pocket of Dooru area in Anantnag.
Earlier in the day, the security forces called off an operation launched on Monday evening in Shopian, after the militants managed to escape from the encounter site.
“The (hiding) terrorists who sensed being cornered started firing on the civilians in order to create chaos to assist them in their escape bid at Pandoshan area of Shopian. The security forces were successful in evacuating the majority of the civilians to a safe location. However, due to incessant and targeted fire from the terrorists, one soldier and two civilians received gunshot wounds,” an Army spokesman said.
The injured were identified as Lance Naik Sanjib Das, Shahid Gani Dar and Suhaib Ahmad. The Army said all the injured were immediately evacuated in an army helicopter to the 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar.
“Despite timely medical intervention and best efforts of the doctors, Dar succumbed to his injuries,” the Army said.
The condition of the Ahmad is stated to be “critical but stable”. “Ahmad will undergo life-saving surgeries. The injured soldier is stable and out of danger,” the Army said.
The family of the victim demanded a probe into the circumstances in which the civilian died. “He was not a militant. He had gone for prayers. Why was he killed?” deceased Dar’s mother said. Scores of women held a protest march in Shopian to demand “justice for the family”.
The anti-militancy operation was launched at Pandoshan, Shopian, around 7:45 p.m. on May 9. “Taking advantage of cover of the dark, the terrorists managed to escape the operation site. Security Forces have intensified their search operations to nab these terrorists,” the Army said.
In Srinagar, the police arrested four “hybrid terrorists” of The Resistance Front in Bemina area.
“Two individuals approaching a checkpoint in a suspicious manner were challenged by the joint party on which they tried to flee. However they were tactfully apprehended by the joint party in Bemina,” the police said.
On their checking, one Chinese Tokarev Type 54 pistol, one magazine and ten Chinese rounds were recovered from their possession, the police said.
“The individuals disclosed that they were working as hybrid terrorists and were involved in delivering pistols in the city to carry out targeted killings at the behest of Pakistani handlers,” the police added.
On basis of the disclosures, two more associates of the module were arrested. “Two more Tokarev T54 pistols, two magazines and ten Chinese rounds were recovered from their possession,” the police said.
