Aatif QayooM
Srinagar, July 17 (KNS): Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar Friday said that top Jaish-e-Muhammad commander, who was an IED expert and had escaped four times from cordons was killed among along with two other militants in an encounter that broke out in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Identified the wanted militant as Waleed Bhai, IGP said that the slain militant was IED expert and had escaped from the cordon four times so far. IGP Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar was addressing press conference at Police Control Room in Srinagar.
He said acting on a tip off, a joint Cordon & Search Operation (CASO) was laid at Nagnad village of Damhal-Hanjipora area of Kulgam district where three militants were killed that include Waleed Bhai, an IED expert. IGP said the identification of other two killed militants is being ascertained.
Giving details about top commanders active in Valley, IGP said that a Lashkar militant was killed among two others in Sopore area of north Kashmir few days ago. “He was also among the most wanted 12. So, ten more are still on the run are on the radar of security agencies”, IGP said.
Terming the killing of Waleed Bhai a big success for security forces, IGP said that he was active for the past one and a half years and was operating in parts of south Kashmir including Qazigund highway stretch. “We have recovered a US made M-4 carbine from the slain JeM commander. His killing is a big success for us”, IGP added.
Vijay Kumar said that another militant who is among the most wanted remaining ten is Sajad alias Haider, who is active in Sopore and had recently released a video asking police not to target militant families. “He was the one involved in the kidnapping of a BJP worker, who was rescued later”, Kashmir Police chief said.
Conveying message to militants, IGP said that police doesn’t target the family members of militants nor does it indulge in any sort of harassment to them. “There is only one case where we arrested the mother of slain militant, against whom there were concrete evidence. Even the court rejected here bail plea”, he said.
The IGP said that manhunt will continue to neutralize the remaining ten militants who are most wanted among whom five belongs to Hizb, two from JeM while three from LeT.
Asked about the figures of active militants in north Kashmir, IGP said that in north Kashmir two successful operations were conducted afresh in which six militants were killed including top LeT commander Usman. “In north Kashmir, there are few active militants. The distance of our camps given them a chance to survive for a bit longer compared to south. We have started anti-militancy operations in north Kashmir and all remaining militants will be killed soon”. (KNS)