Terrorist neutralised, war like stores recovered: Kulgam Encounter
Aman Zutshi
The officers of J&K police and Indian army on Friday evening held a press conference in Samnoo village of Kulgam of Kashmir after achieving success in their joint anti-terrorist operation in Samnoo of Kulgam in which they neutralised five terrorists of LeT in a gunfight which began on yesterday and ended today. The officers shared details of the operation after its conclusion to the media.
Divulging details of the Kulgam encounter, an Indian army officer said, “This is a collaborative effort of Indian army over a sustained period of time in Kulgam district wherein presence of five terrorists were reported in Samnoo village of Kulgam. A joint operation was launched by troops of 34 RR, JKP, 9 Para SF, 18 BN CRPF based on specific intelligence on Nov 16 at 12hrs”.
“The contact was established with speed and strength and while the search was in progress the hiding terrorists from a house opened fire at our own troops and the contact was established at 6pm.The troop evacuated the civilians living in the vicinity to safety and carried out a deliberate operation which lasted for over 24 hours. The operation ended in the neutralisation of five hardcore LeT terrorists.
“A huge cache of war-like stores which includes 4 AK-47, two pistols, grenades and incriminating material have been recovered from them while carrying out the operation the troops remained dedicated and displayed restraint, caution to ensure minimum collateral damage to locals. The results which the army has attained are unprecedent which thwarted the nefarious designs of terrorists to escalate violence in Kashmir.
“The OGW network has been identified and suitable legal actions has been initiated against them while further search and follow up actions are in progress. The joint operation ensures suitable security system in the valley”, he said.
“We received specific inputs regarding the movement of terrorists then a joint operation was launched yesterday by units of Kulgam police, 34 RR, JKP, 18 Battalion CRPF and 9 Para SF at Samnoo on Nov 16 which falls in the jurisdiction of police station Dhamal Hanjipora. The contact was established with the terrorists of LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) hiding in the residential houses of locals and thus in the encounter five terrorists were killed”, a J&K police officer said.
“The five terrorists have been identified as Sameer Ahmed Shiekh, Danish Munir Thoker of Shopian, Ubaid Padder of Shopian, Hanzala Shah of Shopian and Yasir Bhat of Kulgam”, he added.
“The recoveries that have been made are four Ak series rifles, 2 pistols, four grenades, and other arms and ammunition. This operation is a synergised effort of security forces operating in Kashmir.
“These terrorists were involved in number of assaults on minorities in Kashmir. Some of these attacks I will enumerate here. The attack which happened last year in Shopian in which one Kashmiri Pandit was attacked namely Sonu Pandit at Chotigam they were involved in that terror attack besides this there was another attack on minorities in Heerpora of Shopian and there was also an attack on a cardon party in Kashmir. The attack on non-local labourers earlier this year in Gagran was also done by them”, he added.
