By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Police claimed to have gunned down three
Lashker-e-Toiba militants including Divisional commander of the outfit
in Beerwah area of Budgam in central Kashmir, here this evening.
Identified as Chotta Furqan of Pakistan, Divisional Commander of the
outfit, Amaar believed to be a Pakistani and Bilal Ahmed of Narwara
Budgam.
Senior superintendent of police Budgam, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari
told News Agency of Kashmir that based on specific information
regarding their presence in Mirpora-Chewdara area of district Budgam.
Police was on trial of a group of LeT militants since last one week.
He said, acting on information an operation was launched in the area
with assistance of CRPF. Police descended on village Chewdara from
back side where contact was established with the militants.
However, the militants managed to flee from the village and were
running from place to place. Finally they concealed themselves in the
ravines between Mirpora and Narwara area, he added.
SSP said that the militants were chased for about two hours and three
Police parties headed by officers swooped down on the area from three
sides which forced the militants to come out in the open and they
opened fire on Police, resulting in an encounter which lasted for about an hour.
He said that Army also joined in during the later stages of the encounter in which three LeT militants were eliminated by the Police.
One of the slain militants was identified as Divisional Commander of
the outfit Chotta Furqan of Pakistan. While the other two are Amaar
believed to be a Pakistani and Bilal Ahmed of Narwara Budgam.
Terming this operation as a big success for J&K Police, SSP Budgam
said that Furqan was involved in number of Grenade throwing and other militancy related incidents and was active in Beerwah, Budgam and Magam belt. He said that the slain militant used to recruit locals
into militancy folds.
Three AK 47 Rifles, one grenade thrower, four grenades and 64 rounds
of ammunition and three magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter. The search of the area was going on till filing of this
report.(NAK)