Three terrorists belonging to a pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen outfit including one of the most wanted and longest surviving terrorist commander was neutralised by the joint team of security forces at Sirchan top area of Anantnag district on Friday.
The cordon and search operation was launched in the general area after receiving inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. The information was extracted by the security forces during an interrogation of an arrested terrorist hailing from Kokernag area of Anantnag on May 5.
During one such anti-terrorist operation launched by the police and 3 RR in the forest area of Sirchan Top (East of Batkoot Pahalgam) area of Anantnag the hiding terrorists opened fire on the security forces leading to an encounter in the area in which all three were neutralised.
According to a police spokesman the slain terrorists have been identified as Mohd Ashraf Khan @Ashraf Molvi/Mansoor ul Haq, Mohd Rafiq Drangay and Roshan Zameer Tantray @Aqib.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range Vijay Kumar termed this operation as a major success as the site of operation is close to Yatra route which indicates that the killed terrorists were eyeing to target Amarnath Yatra-2022.
As per police records, the killed terrorist Mohd Ashraf Khan was the oldest surviving terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen and figured among the list of most wanted terrorists after recycling in year 2013.
Police spokesman added, "Mohd Ashraf had a long history of terror crime cases which included attacks on several security personnel and civilians. Ashraf was also well trained in fabricating and planting of IEDs as he had crossed over to PoK in year 1999 to get illegal arms training and join terror folds. He was also instrumental in reviving the terror folds of Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag by recruiting the gullible youth into terror folds. Moreover, on his directions terrorists killed Sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar and his wife Jawahara Begum at Lal Chowk Anantnag on 09/08/2021.
According to police records, HM terrorist Roshan Zameer Tantray was active since year 2018 and involved in several terror crime cases including killings of Mohd Saleem Dar resident of Larkipora, Fatehpora Anantnag on 02/04/2020, ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara on 22/12/2021, HC Ali Mohd Ganie at Hasanpora Tabeela on 29/01/2022. He was also involved in killing of a truck driver namely Narayan Dutt resident of Sara Kotla Katra Reasi who was loading apples in his truck bearing registration No. JK02AQ-6571 at Fruit Mandi Kanalwan.The third terrorist identified as Mohd Rafiq Drangay was also active since year 2019 and involved in several terror crime cases including killings of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara on 22/12/2021 and HC Ali Mohd Ganie at Hasanpora Tabeela on 29/01/2022, police spokesman added.