Six militants, including two holed up inside a mosque, were killed in twin two-day operations in south Kashmir on Friday, taking the death toll to eight.
“The security forces exhibited the highest level of patience and professionalism. Tear gas shells were used. The hiding terrorists were repeatedly appealed to surrender but they didn’t and were ultimately neutralised. Security forces ensured there was zero damage to the mosque, besides maintaining its sanctity,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said.
In the gunfight that erupted in Pampore’s Meej area on Thursday morning after a tip-off, one militant was killed and two hid inside a nearby mosque. The security forces continued with the operation throughout the day and night to ensure that the militants did not give a slip, he said.
An Army spokesman said, “One AK-47 and one pistol were recovered from the Pampore gunfight site”.
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Second operation
In the operation at Shopian’s Bandpawa, carried out jointly by the Army, the police and the CRPF on Thursday afternoon, four militants were killed. Earlier in the day, one militant was killed.
The police said the bodies of the slain militants were sent to Baramulla for conducting medico-legal formalities, including collection of their DNA, followed by last rites.
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“In case, any family claims the killed terrorists to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for the identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla”," the police said.
They were locals: villagers
According to the villagers, most of the slain militants were locals.
Around 27 militants were killed in security operations in south Kashmir this month, including 22 in Shopian district.
At least 102 militants, including top commanders, were killed in Kashmir this year. Of them, 72 were killed during the Coronavirus pandemic since March 20. An official said 50 militants killed belonged to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen alone.
Will ensure normalcy soon: Army
General officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps Lieutenant General B.S. Raju said the Army would try to ensure that normality was restored in full across the Valley in the next few months so that people resumed all kinds of activities in a peaceful manner. “With every operation, we are moving on the path of peace”.
The Army said 49 youth joined various militant ranks this year. “Twenty-seven were killed. It doesn’t give us pleasure to kill young boys. But if anybody picks up arms, we will do what we are doing,” the GOC said.
The Army was able to prevent the new recruitment and identify those behind the militant recruitment, he stated .
Speaking on the successful operations, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said, “The mission of the police is to stabilise peace in J&K and they are continuously working towards that. During this year, there were a number of successful operations. A number of youth, who were on the brink of joining militancy, were also brought back in time”, he added.
