Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, one of them involved in the targeted killing of a bank manager from Rajasthan, were killed in an overnight encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Wednesday.
“One of the killed terrorists has been identified as Jan Mohd Lone of Shopian. Besides other terror crimes, he was involved in the recent killing of Vijay Kumar, a bank manager, on May 2, 2022 in Kulgam district,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
Kumar, a bank manager from Rajasthan who was posted at the Elaqahi Dehati Bank in the Valley, was shot dead inside his cabin by a gunman in a targeted attack. The incident, where the gunman takes aim from a close range, was captured by the bank’s CCTV camera.
The second slain terrorist has been identified as Tufail Ganai. “Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including an AK 47 rifle and a pistol, were recovered from the site of encounter,” the police said.
The duo was trapped by the security forces during an anti-militancy operation in Shopian’s Kanjiular area.
Meanwhile, the security forces have engaged a group of hiding militants south Kashmir’s Kulgam. “Exchange of fire is on in the area,” the police said.
In Jammu, security forces recovered 10 gelatin sticks, detonator and a wire from a bus heading for Jammu from Doda. Officials said the explosives were defused in a controlled manner by the bomb disposal squad. Sources said two or three persons were questioned after the recovery.
NIA searches
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted multiple searches in Jammu and Kashmir in a case pertaining to cross-LoC trade and terror financing.
An NIA spokesman said the agency's teams raided the premises of suspected persons at three locations in Baramulla and one in Handwara.
"During the searches, digital devices along with incriminating documents have been seized. Further investigation in the case continues," the NIA spokesman said.
The NIA said the case pertains to the generation of additional profits through cross LoC trade mechanism between J&K and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and using funds for fomenting terrorist activities in J&K.
The trade was started in 2008 and two routes, Salamabad, Uri, in Baramulla, and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch, were opened. It was suspended in April, 2019.
