Two militants of lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) outfit have been killed in an operation in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday afternoon after security forces cordoned off an agricultural farm where a group of militants had reportedly gathered to hold a meeting.
Sources said the security forces raided Wandhakpora village situated on the left bank of River Jhelum following information that militants were present there. Sources said the security forces came in civilian vehicles to take them out. After the initial exchange of fire, the militants fled away from the scene and reached nearby Goripora village. They were later spotted in a Government-owned plant nursery where they engaged the security forces in a gunfight.
During heavy exchange of fire, two militants were shot dead. One of the slain militants Abu Okasha, was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Udhampur National Highway attack on a BSF convoy in August 2015 that resulted into death of two BSF troopers.
last week, the security forces shot dead three Hizbul Mujahideen militants at Dadsara village in Tral sub-district of south Kashmir. Among those, one slain militant was believed to have escorted the militants to Udhampur and provided shelter to them.
Even as security forces refused to confirm that militants of leT and Hizbul Mujahideen had assembled at Wandhakpora to hold a meeting, sources said it was large group and the slain militants actually provided cover to help their associates to break the cordon and escape. Sources said that at least two militants were holed up in the cordoned area till late in the night. A contact established at around 8:30 pm resulted into injuries to at least two soldiers, sources said.
Reports said that villagers came out in defence of militants engaged in a gunfight at by hurling stones at the security forces. Witnesses said that the villagers, mostly youths, pelted stones at the forces who have laid a cordon around the plant nursery where the operation was underway.
Sources said security forces tightened siege around Wandakhpora, Goripora and Kunjipora villages. The area, mostly containing plain fields sans plateaus and mountains is in close vicinity of Indian Air Force’s Awantipora Base, one of largest aerodromes in N. India.
This is the third major operation in south Kashmir during this month. Six militants have been killed in these operations. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Javed Mujtaba Gilani said that strong informer base in Kashmir is helping police to keep the militants on run.
Meanwhile, militants opened fire on the security forces before escaping from a cordon in the Khimber area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district
“After receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area, forces launched search operation while cordoning off the whole area. However, militant’s managed to escape from the spot leaving an AK-47 rifle behind”, sources said.
The area was cordoned off after the incident.