Amid beefed up security in Kashmir Valley ahead of Republic Day, security forces shot dead two terrorists, suspected to be foreign nationals belonging to the lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) outfit, in an encounter at Hadoora Village in Ganderbal district on Tuesday morning.
A Defence spokesman said that police, paramilitaries and Army soldiers cordoned off Haddora Village in Phak quarter of Ganderbal District early on Tuesday following specific information that terrorists were hiding in the village.
While the cordon was being laid in the village, the terrorists came out of their hideout and engaged in a gunfight with the security forces.
The exchange of fire continued for over an hour till both the terrorists were shot dead. There was no report of any casualty on the security forces’ side.
The encounter took place, two days ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in Kashmir amid reports that terrorists were planning to disrupt the official functions across the State.
The State police chief SP Vaid on Monday took stock of the security situation and asked officers to remain on high alert.
On the ground, despite continuous snowfall and low temperature, police and security forces launched frisking and search operations across the Valley to exhibit alertness.
The police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have intensified surprise checking of vehicles and pedestrians in capital Srinagar while the Army launched several search operations in far-off villages and towns.
“We are extra cautious ahead of the Republic Day. There are reports about the movement of terrorists from Srinagar City besides northern and southern parts of the Valley,” CRPF spokesman Rajesh Yadav said.
The security forces conducted house-to-house search in Arampora Village of north Kashmir’s Sopore area on the suspicion that terrorists were on a move in the belt.
The main Republic Day function in summer capital Srinagar would be held at Bakshi Stadium, where a three-tier security cover would be established to secure the area. All separatist groups including the Joint Resistance Forum (JRF), a loose grouping of prominent separatist outfits that spearheaded the public uprising in Kashmir last year and Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Coucil (UJC) have called for a complete shutdown and observance of “black day” on January 26.
The security forces are extra-cautious in the backdrop of recent unrest and attempts by terrorists to spring nasty surprises on such important occasions. last year, on Independence Day, leT launched a massive fidayeen attack in Nowhatta part of old Srinagar and killed a CRPF Commandant and a Constable.
The frequency of terrorists -security forces conflict has increased in the Valley since the onset of winter as terrorists tend to hide in the populated areas. At least nine terrorists have been killed in various encounters across the Valley since January 1, 2017.