Security forces shot dead a lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) militant in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday while a group of militants escaped a security cordon in south Kashmir’s Tral belt.
Police claimed that the slain militant was involved in killing of Station House Officer of Chadoora police station early this month. Initially, the security forces claimed that the slain militant was a Pakistani national but later he was identified as a recently recruited local cadre hailing from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Sources said that police and security forces cordoned off Hushroo Dangarpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district following intelligence reports that militants were present in the area. The exchange of fire ensued when the holed up militants attempted to flee from the single storey house, which was later razed to rubble.
The gunfight continued for 14 hours. The police initially identified the slain militant as Omar Bilal, a Pakistani belonging to leT. However, he was later identified as Showkat Ahmed, a local militant who had quit motor mechanic job last month to join militant ranks. Hundreds of people gathered at Ahmad’s native lelhar village in Pulwama when the news of his death spread in the area.
Reports said that Showkat was missing since November 30, 2013 and his family had lodged a missing report in local police station. The police subsequently investigated that he was lured by leT commander Ibn-e-Qasim who is “Divisional Commander” of the outfit in south Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Police and Rashtriya Rifles personnel cordoned off Gadpora Wagad village of Tral in south Kashmir during Wednesday night. The residents in the area said that the area rattled with gunshots and grenade explosions.
However, the cordon was lifted on Thursday afternoon and there was no militant found in a house believed to be the militants’ hideout. While security forces said that the militants managed to escape in darkness, the locals alleged that the security forces were misinformed on the presence of militants and they unilaterally opened fire.