Six Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants, including two non-locals, and one soldier were killed during twin overnight anti-militancy operations in south Kashmir on Thursday.
Among the slain militants included those behind the recent deadly attack on a police bus in Zewan area that left three policemen dead and 11 injured on December 14.
“During the past 24 hours, two anti-terrorist operations were carried out in twin districts of south Kashmir, resulting in the elimination of six terrorists of the JeM, including two Pakistani terrorists. December has seen killing of 28 militants, including five Pakistanis. The rise in encounters doesn’t mean that militancy has increased but otherwise,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
Four security personnel were also injured in the gunfights, in which one soldier, identified as sepoy Jasbir Singh, died of his injuries in the hospital.
Arms recovery
Two M-4 rifles and four AK-47 rifles were recovered from the encounter sites at Anantnag’s Nowgam-Dooru area and Kulgam’s Mirhama, the police said.
The slain militants were identified as Sultan alias Rayees alias Mavia from Pakistan, Nisar Ahmad Khanday from Dudwangan-Kapran, Altaf Ahmad Shah from Nathipora Dooru, Shahid alias Shahzaid from Pakistan, Mohammad Shafi Dar from Tral and Uzair Ahmad from Mirhama.
“Altaf and Sultan, along with another terrorist, Suhail Rather, were involved in the Zewan attack on December 14. The killing of the most wanted terrorists is a big success [for the security forces],” Mr. Kumar stated.
‘Less local militant recruitment’
General Officer Commanding (GoC), 15 Corps Lieutenant General D.P. Pandey has said local militant recruitment has drastically come down this year. “Only 128 to 130 locals joined militancy compared to 180 last year,” he observed.
More foreign militants were also getting killed of late as they were coming out of their hideouts because “local militants were refusing to attack forces”. “As foreigners would come out of their hideouts, they will be killed,” he added.
Around 172 militants were killed in around 185 gunfights in Kashmir this year.