3 Hizbul militants, woman killed in Srinagar encounter
This takes the number of militants killed since Jan to 177 in 72 operations
SRINAGAR: Three militants and a civilian woman were killed, while two CRPF personnel, including an officer, sustained injuries in a predawn gunbattle on Thursday in the Batamaloo area of the city. This takes the number of militants killed this year to 177s.
HT Correspondent
SRINAGAR: Three militants and a civilian woman were killed, while two CRPF personnel, including an officer, sustained injuries in a predawn gunbattle on Thursday in the Batamaloo area of the city, officials said.
This takes the number of militants killed this year to 177 in 72 operations. The number includes 22 foreign terrorists.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Firdousabad locality in Batamaloo area at around 2.30am following information about the presence of militants there, the officials said.
They said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire on security forces.
A civilian, identified as Kaunsar Riyaz (45), was killed in the firing, while two CRPF personnel, including an officer, were injured, the officials said.
The injured personnel were taken to hospital, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir director general of police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh, said all the three militants killed in the encounter were south Kashmir locals.
Addressing a press conference at the Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar, the DGP said that in the early hours of the day, security forces, while acting on a lead, zeroed in on a house where the militants were hiding.
“They were given a chance to surrender, but they refused and fired. One CRPF officer and another CRPF man sustained injuries in the initial exchange of firing. The officer is critical and we are praying for his recovery,” Singh said.
He added that the forces conducted the operation in a professional
manner and killed all the three militants.
“However, a woman was caught in crossfire. Her death is very unfortunate, and we express sympathy with the bereaved family,” the DGP said.
The officer was accompanied by IGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar and IG, CRPF, Srinagar sector, Charu Sinha.
“Arms and ammunition were recovered,” he said.
Singh said militants from other districts of south and north Kashmir continue to carry out attacks on security forces.“On August 14, they targeted
our party and killed two policemen at Nowgam. Before that, they had killed two BSF men at Pandach on the city’s outskirts. And then, they made another attempt at Pantha Chowk, where we lost a brave SOG man,” the DGP said.
He said the police and CRPF teams are on alert, and whenever they get a lead about the presence of militants in the city, efforts are made to ensure zero collateral damage.
“Today’s operation was the seventh one in Srinagar in the recent past,” Singh added.
The Union territory’s police chief said 177 militants have been killed in 72 operations so far this year. “In terms of peace, 2020 has been better on every parameter than 2019. So far this year, we have done 72 operations, in which 177 militants were killed, including 12 in Jammu,” the DGP said.
He said 22 militants from Pakistan were among these 177, adding this “shows Pakistan’s direct involvement in terror activities”.
“Most of the terrorists working in outfits like Lashkar and Jaish are from Pakistan. I hope the way the forces are conducting the operations, we will achieve more successes on the peace-building and operations front,” Singh said, while appealing to the young people not to take the wrong path.
The terrorists were given a chance to surrender, but they fired. One CRPF officer and another security personnel sustained injuries in the initial exchange of firing DILBAG SINGH, J&K DGP