TRF Commander Among Three Militants Killed in Encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam: Police

According to a police spokesperson, bodies of three terrorists killed in the anti-terrorist operation have been recovered so far. IGP Kashmir identified one of the slain militant as TRF Commander Basit Dar he said was involved in at least 18 cases.

Srinagar:The Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday claimed to have killed a third militant in Kulgam district of south Kashmir where an encounter broke out on Monday night.

“3rd terrorist neutralised in Kulgam encounter. Identity being ascertained. Further details shall follow,” a spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Police wrote on X. As on Wednesday, police said that two militants including a top commander of the TRF outfit were killed during the overnight gunfight at Redwani Payeen area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district. The police spokesperson confirmed the recovery of the militants' bodies in the anti-militancy operation.

"Bodies of 02 terroristskilled in the anti-terrorist operation recovered so far. Identity and affiliation being ascertained. Operationin progress. Further details shall follow," the spokesperson said in a post on X.

IGP Kashmir VK Birdi identified one of the slain as Basit Dar, a local from Redwani Kulgam and a top commander of the TRF outfit, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The IGP said that Dar was active since 2021 and was involved in at least 18 cases including civilian and police personnel killings in Srinagar.

Previously, on Monday night, the spokesperson had announced on X, the commencement of the encounter in the Redwani Payeen area of Kulgam district. "Both police and security forces are actively engaged in the operation," the spokesperson asserted.

While announcing that an encounter has started in Redwani Payeen area of District Kulgam, the police spokesperson stated that police and security forces were actively engaged in the operation, with further details expected to emerge.

This development comes amidst escalating violence in the region, with the death toll rising in militancy-related incidents. According to police data, So far in 2024, seven civilians, one security forces personnel, and six militants have lost their lives in 12 such incidents across Jammu and Kashmir.

In another anti-militant operation in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Police attached properties of seven militant handlers based in Pakistan worth lakhs in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. A spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Police said that the properties were attached under sections of 88 CRPC and are linked with case FIR No.04/2008 u/s 2/3 EIMCO Act, 121 RPC,7/25 IA Act, 13 UA (P) Act of PS Kreeri, police said.

“The property was identified belonging to terror handlers during the course of investigation/enquiry conducted by Police. The operation reaffirms the commitment of Police to combat the terror activities,” added the police spokesperson.