Security forces kill top militant commanders in JK

Six terrorists have been killed in the past four days in Kashmir, out of which four were in the top ten wanted list, said Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Thursday. He also noted another big achievement by the security forces operating in Kashmir in which they were able to bring back local terrorists and were attempting to put them back in the mainstream.

Srinagar:As many as six militants have been neutralisedincluding fourtop militant commanders, the Jammu and Kashmir Police chief said on Thursday.

Addressing the media in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, DGP Dilbag Singh said, "Encounters during the last few days were major successes for the security forces and this will bring relief in the lives of the local people."

"In Kreeri (Baramulla), top LeT commander Sajad Haider and his Pakistani associate Usman were killed together with another local militant Naseer who was killed yesterday in Handwara."

"Naseer trained in Pakistan and was a dangerous militant. He was involved in the killings of many security personnel including some CRPF personnel. During the last 4 days, three encounters took place across Kashmir. And in those encounters, four militants of 'A' and 'A-plus' category were killed. Those four militants were top commanders and were in the list of top 10 to 20 militants across Kashmir," Singh said.

"Sajad Haider had recruited local youths for militancy in large numbers. In the past few days, security forces have arrested some youths who were on the path to join militancy. Militants like those killed in recent encounters were involved in recruiting these youths."

Inspector General (IG) Police, Vijay Kumar, said that the leadership structure of terrorists in Kashmir has been wrecked by the number of commanders being killed in the past few days.

The DGP further said, "Infiltration has dropped by almost fifty per cent, and there has also been a big drop in the number of local youth joining terrorist groups."

(With inputs from agencies)