Cop killer Adil Parray among them

Four Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in two gunfights in Pulwama and Srinagar, taking the total number of militants killed in different encounters this year to 99 so far.

One of them was involved in the killing of policeman Reyaz Ahmad, the police said. “The police and security forces have neutralised three LeT militants in an overnight operation in Pulwama, including the killer of cop Reyaz Ahmad,” said a police statement issued here.

Acting on a specific input about presence of militants at Drabgam village in Pulwama, a joint team of the police, Army and paramilitary CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the security forces approached the suspected spot, the militants fired at them, triggering an exchange of fire. In the ensuing firefight, three local militants linked to the LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the spot, the police said.

They have been identified as Junaid Ahmad Sheergojri, Fazil Nazir Bhat and Irfan Ahmad Malik, all residents of Pulwama. The killed militants were part of groups involved in several militant activities, the police said.

Sheergojri and Abid Hussain Shah, who was killed on May 30, were involved in the killing of police personnel Reyaz Ahmad Thoker at his home at Gadoora village in Pulwama on May 13, the police said.

He was also involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at a brick-kiln at Magraypora village in Budgam district on June 2. The police have recovered two AK-47 assault rifles and a pistol from the encounter site. Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar said 99 militants had been killed in anti-militancy operations so far this year.

In another incident, the police neutralised an LeT militant, identified as Adil Parray, in a brief chance encounter at Kreshbal Palpora Sangam area of Srinagar.

Based on an input regarding his movement on the outskirts of Srinagar at the Kreshbal Palpora area, a special team of the Srinagar Police launched a search operation. The militant fired upon them, triggering a brief chance encounter.

Adil Parray, alias Abu Bakr, of Ganderbal was killed in the encounter. The IGP said the slain militant along with Abid Khan had joined the militant ranks in September 2021. Both were involved in terror attacks on civilians and outsiders in downtown area of Srinagar last year. Abid was neutralised in an encounter in March in Ganderbal.

The police said Parray attacked two policemen who were killed. A nine-year-old daughter of policeman Saifulla Qadri was injured in the incident.

99 ultras neutralised this year so far

• One of the slain militants was involved in the killing of policeman Reyaz Ahmad
• They were part of groups involved in several militant activities in the Valley
• 99 militants killed in different encounters this year

Two soldiers hurt

• Two Army personnel were injured on Sunday in a landmine explosion near LoC in Poonch district

Courtesy: The Tribune India :12th June , 2022