3 LET terrorists killed in Pulwama gunfight
SRINAGAR: Three Lashkar-etaiba terrorists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting the Jammu division of the Union Territory.
The encounter started at Pahoo in Pulwama when a joint party of security forces cordoned the area in the afternoon after getting information about the presence of the militants, police said. The gunfight continued for a couple of hours.
One of the terrorists was identified as Arif Ahmad Hazar, alias Rehan, who was involved in the killings of several policemen and civilians.
“Arif Hazar alias Rehan, deputy of Let’s top commander (Basit) killed in Pulwama encounter. He was involved in killings of police inspector Parvez in front of the mosque, sub inspector Arshid and a mobile shop owner in the downtown. Several FIRS are registered against him in Srinagar city,” inspector general of police Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.
The other two slain terrorists were Abu Huzaifa, alias Haqqani from Pakistan, and Natish Wani, alias Haider, a resident of Khanyar in Srinagar, a police spokesperson said. The killed terrorists were involved in attacks on security personnel and civilians.
Hazar was a categorized terrorist, active since March 2021, the spokesperson said. He was involved in the killings of inspector Parvez in front of a mosque at Menganwari Nowgam on June 6, 2021, sub-inspector Arshid Ahmad Mir near Khanyar police station on September 12, 2021, Javaid Ahmad at Saidapora Eidgah on June 17, 2021, mobile shop owner Umar Nazir Bhat at Main Chowk Habba Kadal on June 23, 2021, civilian Mohammad Shafi Dar at SD Colony Batamaloo, and civilian Rouf Ahmad Khan outside his house at Mejinpora Safakadal on December 22, 2021, police said.
“He was also involved in grenade attacks on police patrols at Safakadal and Rainawari,” the
spokesperson said.
Hazar with some associates was also involved in an attack on the residence of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader at Aribagh, Srinagar, police said. Rameez Raja was killed in the attack and his service rifle was snatched.
He was also involved in an attack on two migrant labourers in Suthsoo Kalan area of Nowgam on April 22 this year, the spokesperson added.
On Saturday, two Jaish-e-mohammad terrorists were killed in
an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. They were identified as Sultan Pathan and Zabiullah, residents of Pakistan.
The encounters come after two JEM terrorist were killed during a pre-dawn gunfight near Sunjuwan military station in Jammu on Friday. Police said a purported attempt by the Pakistan-based terror outfit to carry out a suicide attack near the army camp was foiled, just a day ahead of Modi’s visit to the region.