Security forces are searching for at least three militants belonging to a pan-Islamic militant outfit in north Kashmir’s lolab pocket following an encounter that triggered off on Tuesday afternoon. One unidentified militant has been shot dead in the gun-battle as troops have launched a massive manhunt in the area.
Defence spokesman lt Col NN Joshi said that Army launched a massive combing operation in lolab pocket of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district following inputs on the movement of a group of militants in the area. late in the evening, contact was established with the militants that led to a gun-battle. One unidentified militant has been killed in the exchange of fire, he said.
“The troops engaged in the operation suspect presence of more militants in the area”, lt Col Joshi told The Pioneer. He said that during the search operations one AK-47 rifle, six magazines, two radio sets and Global Positioning System equipment have been recovered from the area.
He said the the slain militant has not been identified nor his allegiance to specific militant group has been ascertained. However, police sources said that the area is generally dominated by pan Islamic lashkar-e-Tayyeba cadres.
During the winter months, it is difficult for militants to survive in forested areas and this compels them to return to inhabited plains. However, with strengthened intelligence network, the security forces are able to track them down and inflict casualties on the militant groups. The level of violence has shown remarkable decline in the recent years but this year militant groups have attempted to up the ante.