Srinagar, Sept 17 (KNS): Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Thursday said that all three militants slain in Batamaloo gunfight were locals from south Kashmir. He added security forces have succeeded in neutralizing 177 militants in 72 operations across the Valley this year. He also termed the killing of a 45-year old woman in “cross firing” as “unfortunate” and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, DGP while addressing press conference in Police Control Room (PCR) soon after the Batamaloo gunfight ended said that joint teams of police and CRPF while acting on a lead encircled the house where militants had taken refuge. “They were given ample chance to give up arms but they refused and fired during which one CRPF officer and another CRPF man sustained bullet injuries in initial exchange of fire. The officer is critical and we are praying for his recovery”, DGP Dilbagh Singh told media.
He said the all three militants hiding in a residential house were neutralized by forces in a professional manner. DGP added the woman was caught in the cross firing which is very unfortunate.
“A woman was caught in the cross firing who was identified as 45-year old Kousar Jan. Her killing is very unfortunate and we express sympathy with the bereaved family,” the DGP Singh said.
The police chief was flanked by IGP Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar and IG CRPF Srinagar sector Charu Sinha.
When asked about the identification of slain militants, DGP said that all three were local militants belonged to south Kashmir. He said arms and ammunition was recovered from slain militants.
He said that militants from other districts of South and north Kashmir keep on visiting Srinagar to carry out attacks on security forces. “On August 14, they targeted our party and killed two policemen at Nowgam. Before that, they had killed two BSF men at Pandach on city outskirts. And then they made another attempt at Pantha Chowk where we lost a brave SoG man,” the DGP Singh.
He said police and CRPF teams are alert and whenever they get a lead about presence of militants in Srinagar, efforts are always put in to ensure zero collateral damage. “Today’s operation was seventh one in Srinagar in the recent past, but biggest success was the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Junaid Sehrai,” the J&K Police chief said.
When asked about the numbers of neutralized militants, DGP said that this year so far 177 militants have been killed in 72 anti-militancy operations which include 22 foreign militants as well.
Hitting out to neighboring country, DGP said Pakistan is trying to float new outfits to create confusion while efforts are being made to revive Al-Badr. “Security agencies are well aware about plans of neighboring country, so counter programs and strategies are being adopted accordingly”, DGP said.
He said despite huge efforts by militants and their handlers across, security forces have succeeded in persuading 20 local youth who had shun the path of militancy and return back to their family.
To a query about assault on media persons while performing their professional duties, DGP termed the incident “unfortunate”, stating such things shouldn’t take place. “But at times, during operations, our men have high temper which result in such incidents. I reiterate that media and policemen are each other’s good friends”, he said.
Speaking at the occasion, new IG CRPF Srinagar Sector Charu Sinha said that there is a huge difference between the situation in Naxal affected areas and Kashmir especially Srinagar. “We will work in a coordinated manner with police and other security agencies”, she said. (KNS)