The police in Jammu & Kashmir have described killing of 200 terrorists in a matter of 11 months “landmark” as five terrorists were shot dead in two separate encounters on the last day of November. This is for the first time in seven years that such a huge number of terrorists has been neutralised in less than a year’s duration.
Jammu & Kashmir police chief Shesh Paul Vaid described the killings as “a huge landmark for establishing peace and stability.”
The first encounter broke out at Futlipora village in central Kashmir’s Pakharpora area when security forces cordoned off a cluster of houses following information that terrorists were hiding there. During the four-hour-long battle four Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed.
“An operation was launched at around 5:30 am and an hour later contact with hiding terrorists was established when forces zeroed in on a suspected house,” Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (Srinagar sector) Ravideep Singh Sahi said.
Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia confirmed that four terrorists were killed in the gunfight. During the gunfight, the residential house where terrorists were hiding was pounded with mortars that razed it to cinders. From the debris of the house, three bodies were recovered. One of the slain terrorists was a local Jaish cadre Shabir Ahmad while two others are suspected foreigners. Sources said that fourth terrorists’ body is likely to be buried under the debris.
The security forces recovered automatic weapons from the encounter site including a totally burnt rifle.
Source said that a teenager was injured during clashes with security forces when a mob tried to disrupt the operation. Scores of youngsters gathered at Pakherpora and tried to march towards the encounter site to help holed up terrorists escape.