Srinagar/ March,22 :(KNS) IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Monday said that four militants were killed in a gunfight with government forces during a cordon and search operation in Manihal Village of South Kashmir's Shopian district. He assured a peaceful summer a smooth conduct of amarnath yatra

Addressing a press Conference Monday morning in Srinagar the IGP Kashmir said that government forces launched a cordon and search operation in the night intervening Sunday and Monday after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area but hiding militant after giving an offer to surrender started firing from the house they were hiding in and in the exchange of fire that continued several hours resulted in the killing of 4 Lashkar-e- Toiba militants . He said that even the wife of the one of the slain militants was taken to the encounter site to appeal her husband to surrender before the forces personnel but he did not pay heed to the surrender offer even from her wife. IGP Kashmir identified the slain militants as Rayees Ahmad Bhat, Amir Shafi Mir, Yaqib Ahmad Malik and Aftab Ahmad Wani and said all the four belong to Lashkar-e- Toiba militant outfit.

Stating that though the militants claimed their association with Lashkar e Mustafa but police believes that Lashkar e Mustafa is an offshoot of Laskkar e Toiba saying that militants keep on changing names as part of their own strategy the IGP Kashmir said that Rayeed Ahmad Bhat was active from last one year, Amir Shafi Mir from February this year,Yaqib Ahmad Malik from December last year and Aftab Ahmad Wani from November last year. He said that arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militants and refuted the rumours spread about people of the adjoining villages trying to come to the encounter site for resorting to stone throwing incidents, saying that "inmates in the village where the encounter breaks out are moved out from their homes to places far away from the encounter site to ensure their safety during which some times miscreants try to disturb peace and they are formally arrested and FIRs are also registered against them". He appealed the militants to surrender before the government forces under the surrender policy before or after any encounter starts with them and assured that they won't be harmed but instead would be treated well.

Stating that nineteen militanst have been killed in nine encounters this year so for in Kashmir valley, the Kashmir Provincial police chief said " In nine encounters incluiding one in North Kashmir and eight in South Kashmir no collateral damage was done to civilians in any area". Saying that police is ready to face any challenge to ensure a peaceful summer in coming months the IGP Kashmir assured peaceful amarnath yatra this year and said all security arrangements are in place for the conduct of a peaceful yatra. He alleged that Pakistan is roping in youth to joint militancy and pushes in drugs from across the line of control (Loc) to intensify drug addiction among youth in valley and appealed people not to allow their children to fall prey to the practices of drug addiction. He asked the parents not to allow their children to join militancy and reminded that seven youth tending to join militancy recently were returned to their families. He said that forces are keeping a vigil over youth just to prevent them from joining militant ranks and the process will continue. (KNS)