Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 14: Security forces shot dead four local Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in a gun battle in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday, officials said.
The gun battle erupted at Badigam, Zainapora in Shopian during a cordon and search operation by Police and Army following an input about the presence of terrorists.
“During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. Later on CRPF also joined. In the ensuing encounter, four local terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed,” a police spokesman said.
They have been identified as Aaqib Farooq Thoker, Waseem Ahmed Thoker, both resident of Heffkhuri, Zainapora, Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shoqeen Ahmad Mir both resident of Sugan in Shopian.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that slain were active in Shopian and adjacent areas of Pulwama. “They were involved in six terror crimes including attacks on outside labourers. Killed terrorist Aaqib Thoker was involved in snatching of 12 Bore Rifle in Shopian.
He was also involved in attack on driver namely Deeraj Dutt resident of Pathankot and cleaners namely Surinder Singh and Sonu Sharma, both residents of Pathankot at Nowpora and Yadar respectively in which they got injured,” Kumar said.
“The hunt for their associates like Aijaz of Pulwama is on and they will be neutralised soon,” he added.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, three Army personnel lost their lives and five others injured after the vehicle they were traveling in overturned near Kanipora village of Shopian district, enroute to an encounter site at Badigam.
“Owing to the wet road conditions, the driver seemingly lost control over the vehicle and it skidded off the road.
The eight injured soldiers were shifted to District Hospital Shopian, where two among them were declared dead.
One soldier had received minor injuries and was discharged from District Hospital.
The five other injured soldiers were evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, where in the third soldier also succumbed to his injuries. Four soldiers are presently at the 92 Base Hospital and are being treated,” Srinagar based defence spokesman said.
Defence sources identified the two of three soldiers killed as Havaldar Ramautar of Alwar, Rajasthan and Sepoy Pawan Singh Gurjar of Dausa, Rajasthan.
The injured were identified as Sep Ashutosh Singh of Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh; Sub Shri Om of Bhiwani, Haryana; Sep Vipin of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh; Ganesh Vairan of Madurai, Tamil Nadu and Nk Deshraj Gurjar of Sikar, Rajasthan. |
