Both involved in many attacks: Police | Weapons seized

Security forces killed two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including the killer of a non-local bank manager, in an overnight gunfight in Kashmir, the police said on Wednesday.

The gunfight erupted late on Tuesday evening at Kanji Ullar village of Shopian district. A police spokesperson said the operation was carried out jointly by the police, the CRPF and the Army. Among the slain militants was one who had shot dead Vijay Kumar, branch manager of Ellaqie Dehati Bank at Areh Mohanpora in Kulgam district, he said.

Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in the village, security men launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area. As the security men approached the suspected spot, the militants fired at them, triggering the encounter.

The slain militants have been identified as Jan Mohammad Lone and Tufail Nazir Ganie of Shopian. According to the police, the deceased were part of a group involved in several terrorist attacks on security forces.

In a statement, Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, said Jan Mohammad Lone was involved in the killing of bank manager Vijay Kumar of Rajasthan in Kulgam on June 2.

According to Kumar, Lone earlier worked as an overground worker of the LeT’s district commander, Adil Ramzan. It was Ramzan who had issued directions for the killing of the bank manager.

The other terrorist, Tufail Nazir Ganie, had escaped from two encounters on April 9 and April 11 in Kulgam, the police said, adding that they had seized an AK-47 rifle and a pistol from the encounter site.

Security agencies have been on high alert as the Valley has seen several targeted killings.

Courtesy: The Tribune India :15th June , 2022