Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir): One Lashkar-e-Toiba militant and two soldiers were killed on Saturday during a gunfight at Zainapora area of south Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Chermarg village in the Zainapora area of the district, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated.
Two soldiers of 1RR, identified as Santosh Yadav and Romit Chauhan, were injured in the exchange of firing with militants, the official said, adding that both the soldiers have succumbed to injuries at the Army's 92 base hospital in Srinagar. The official said reinforcements were rushed to the area and in the exchange of firing, one militant was killed.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar, after the encounter ended, said that the operation was launched during the intervening night of 18/19 February 2022.
"Cluster of houses were taken into cordon and the process of evacuating the civilians started. During the process, when search party reached one of the houses belonging to Gowhar Ahmad Bhat. The house-owner intentionally misled the search party and denied sheltering the terrorist in his house," IGP Kashmir said.
He further said, "While he was being questioned, a militant sheltered in the house opened fire on the search party causing grievous injuries to two of the Soldiers. Both the soldiers later succumbed to injuries."
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"In the retaliatory action, one militant of LeT outfit namely Abdul Qayoom Dar, resident of Laroo Kakapora area of Pulwama district was killed. Arms and ammunition including one AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from him,” he added. IGP said that a case has been registered and the house owner has been arrested under “terror laws”.
“Killed militant has a history of the militant association. In April 2020 an encounter took place in his house. He was arrested and booked under PSA. He was released in August 2021 but continued working for militants. SSP Pulwama officially intimated some days ago that he has become an active militant of the LeT outfit. Consequently, he has been categorised as C category militant," he said.
In another development, Maj Gen Ajay Chandpuria, GOC Dagger Division in Baramulla said, "...Weapons/devices recovered from terrorists killed at LoC weren't commonly seen. These were in Afghanistan when US troops left. Our analysis - not only terrorists but weapons can also come to Kashmir."
