JOIN USThree local LeT militants killed in Sopore encounter
Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, armed with latest AK-74 rifles, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district in an overnight encounter.
Sources said based on a specific input about the movement of the militants, army's 52-Rashtriya Rifles troops and special operations group (SOG) of J&K police started a search and cordon operation in Amargarh, Sopore, 52 km from here during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
"Initial contact by the army with the militants was made at 4:15 am and by 5:30 am, all the three militants were neutralised," they said and added one policeman was also injured in the encounter.
Superintendent Police (SP) Sopore, Harmeet Singh while confirming the death of three militants in the encounter said three AK-74 rifles have been recovered from their possession. "Earlier, the AK-74 rifles, which is a short gun, were used by militant commanders only. This shows that new weapons are being sent into Indian territory by militant handlers fro across the border," he told Deccan Herald.
The slain militants were identified as Javid Ahmad Dar Abid Hamid Mir and Danish Manzoor, all locals affiliated with LeT. Army on Tuesday had killed the outfit's senior most commander, Abu Dajana in Pulwama. According to police records, Dar was a C-category militant, while Mir belonged to the A-category.
Reports said, soon after the news about the killing of militants spread, the youth took to streets i several areas of north Kashmir and started pelting stones on security forces. At least three protesters were injured after army opened fire in Saderkoot Bala area of Bandipora district as people hit the streets after the body of Mir reached to his native area.
Authorities, suspended cellular and mobile Internet services in Baramulla district to "prevent the spread of any rumour on social media." The schools and colleges in the district were also closed for the day.
While most of the encounters in recent months have been happening in southern districts of Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, a senior police officer said, north Kashmir has more battle-hardened militants active on the ground than the South.
"Contrary to what is being projected in the media that south Kashmir is a hotbed of militancy, the figures reveal that north has more active militants. The militants in the north are mostly foreigners," he told Deccan Herald.
With militancy, especially home grown, on rising, security forces have launched a massive operation to flush out the ultras. 122 militants have been killed so far this year across the Valley, which is highest in the last eight years. The security forces are going after militants as part of operation "hunt down" and on the basis of a “hit list” of militants.
In the first five days of this month, 13 people, including eight militants, three civilians and two army personnel have been killed in militancy related incidents.