2 other terrorists shot in encounter
A joint team of security forces on Saturday eliminated three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the thickly forested area of Nagaberan in Tral town of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Among them was one of the 10 most wanted terrorists, JeM Commander, on the “hit list” of the Jammu & Kashmir Police.
The slain JeM commander has been identified as Wakeel Ahmad Shah, son of Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, resident of Bagandar Tral. According to police, Shah was involved in the killing of Tral municipal chairman and BJP leader Rakesh Pandita at Tral Payeen. However, the identities of the other two killed terrorists could not be ascertained till the time of filing this report.
Addressing a joint Press conference along with GOC Victor Force Major General Rashim Bali, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar told reporters that JeM commander Wakeel Ahmad Shah was a categorised terrorist and his name had figured in the list of 10 most wanted terrorists released in August.
Kumar said Shah had executed a series of attacks on police/security forces and resorted to brutal killings of civilians branding them as police/SF informers.
Kashmir said Shah was also involved in the killing of Municipal chairman Tral and BJP leader Rakesh Pandita at Tral Payeen; Shabir Ahmad Bhat resident of Noorabad Tral; Mohd Ayoub Ahanger resident of Tral Payeen; Shakeela Begum resident of Dar Ganie Gund’ and SPO Fayaz Ahmad, his wife Raja Begum and daughter Rafia Jan at Hariparigam.
According to police records, Shah was also involved in a series of firing/grenade lobbing attacks on Police/security forces including firing on SF during CASO at Brenthal, grenade lobbing at bus stand Tral on 18/10/2020. Besides, Case FIR No 101/2020 of PS Tral pertaining to recovery of narcotics and explosives at Tral Payeen was also registered against him.
In a separate statement, Srinagar based Defence PRP Col Emron Musavi said, “For the last four days Victor Force was conducting search operations in the upper reaches of Nagaberan and Dacchigam forests as a follow up of Op HANGALMARG.’
He said the first contact with the hiding group of terrorists was established at 6:45 am on Saturday. Three terrorists were neutralised in a swift operation. Two AK 47s, one SLR and other warlike stores have been recovered from them.
Another JeM top commander Saifullah @Lamboo, involved in Pulwama attack, was also neutralised in the same area on 31 Jul 2021, he added.