Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Five terrorists were killed in an encounter that raged early this morning at Sugoo-Hendhama village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, police officials said.
Officials said that the identities of the five slain terrorists is being ascertained and the operation has ended. “Two more terrorists eliminated (Total Five terrorists). The operation was executed with precision ensuring humane approach & no collateral damage. 2 AKs, 1 SLR, 1 Pistol recovered till now. Search in progress,” said Defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia.
Earlier, in the initial firefight, three terrorists were killed, police had said. Today’s encounter is third since June 6 in the Shopian district. On June 6, five Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists including a top commander were killed and on June 7, four more terrorists of the outfit were killed. Since June 6, more than 12 terrorists have been killed in Shopian alone in three separate encounters.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had said that three terrorists have been killed in Shopian encounter. “It was a clean operation. Searches are on,” he said.
Joint teams of security forces including Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area in the wee hours.
A security official said that when the security forces zeroed in on the suspected house, the terrorists who were hiding in the house opened fire triggering a fierce gunbattle.
Colonel Rajesh Kalia told NVI said that a joint operation was launched on the basis of J&K police intelligence input. “Cordon was laid and contact established at 5:30 am.”
Security forces have intensified anti-militancy operations this year across Kashmir with a special focus on south Kashmir, the hotbed of new-age militancy. So far, over 40 anti-militancy operations have been conducted in which 87 militants including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been killed.
Sources said that there is a possibility of the presence of one more terrorist for which massive combing operation is on in the area.
Pertinently, 9 terrorists including top Hizb commanders were killed in two separate encounters at Reban and Pinjura Villages of district on June 6 and 7.
