In order to check the targeted killing of innocent civilians the security forces have intensified anti terrorist operations to flush out fresh crop of local terrorists and their 'hybrid' associates in Kashmir valley to ensure peaceful conduct of the Amarnath yatra starting June 30.
In the last 24 hours the security forces have gunned down four Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in two back to back operations including those behind the cold bloodied murder of famous Kashmiri TV artist Amreen Bhat in Chadoora area of Budgam. Besides, 01 hybrid terrorist has been arrested along with arms/ammunition in Bemina area of Srinagar.
In the coming days the security grid is also going to finalise the comprehensive deployment plan of additional companies of the para military forces along the entire yatra route to plug any gaps.
According to official sources the Union Home Ministry has given its nod to deploy more than 300 additional companies across transit camps, base camps, and security checkpoints along the yatra route. IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar Friday congratulated the joint teams of security forces for their valour and determination to neutralize and avenge the killing of artist Amreen Bhat within 24hrs. He also termed these operations as a big success and said that during past three days 10 terrorists including 3 from JeM and 7 from LeT proscribed terror outfits have been neutralized in the Kashmir valley.
According to a spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir police, at around 9. 33 p.m on a specific input generated by Awantipora Police regarding presence of terrorists in village Aghanzipora area of Awantipora, a joint cordon & search operation was launched by Police, Army (55RR) and CRPF (130Bn) in the said area. During the operation, as the joint search party was laying cordon around a cluster of houses, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two local terrorists identified as Shahid Mushtaq Bhat resident of Hafroo Chadoora, Budgam and Farhan Habib resident of Hakripora, Pulwama linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
While interacting with media, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that both the killed terrorists had joined terror ranks recently and were involved in killing of artist Amreen Bhat in Chadoora area of Budgam on the directions of LeT Commander Lateef.
Meanwhile, in Soura area of Srinagar, a special & small team of Srinagar Police also launched a cordon and search operation in the said area. During the search, as the presence of terrorists was ascertained and search party proceeded towards suspected spot the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Shakir Ahmad Waza and Afreen Aftab Malik both residents of Trenz Shopian.
As per police records both the killed terrorist were categorized terrorists and were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police and security forces. Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms & ammunition was recovered from both the sites of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
According to a police spokesman, "Srinagar Police along with security forces also arrested one hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT from Bemina area along with arms and ammunition.
Preliminary investigation revealed that, the arrested accused was working as a hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT outfit and was involved in delivering pistols in Srinagar City to carry out targeted killings.