4 ultras gunned down in Shopian encounter

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Srinagar, March 22

Four Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were killed in an encounter during a joint operation by the Jammu & Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army in the Munihal area of Shopian district in the UT on Monday.

Officials in the J&K security establishment said the operation ended in the early hours today after neutralisation of the fourth terrorist. The operation was launched following intelligence inputs, IGP Vijay Kumar said.

“Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Manihal area of the district around midnight following information about the presence of militants there,” the IGP said.

The militants refused to surrender despite repeated warnings and offers and instead opened fire at the forces, he said.

“We appealed to them to surrender and even involved their families, including the wife and a four-year-old child of one of the militants, in the process. But they refused,” the officer said.

A gunbattle ensued after the militants reportedly opened fire at the security forces, resulting in the killing of the four ultras.

“All the four were categorised militants belonging to LeT outfit. Although they call themselves as Lashkar-e-Mustafa, they are listed as LeT militants in our records and all these names, including TRF (The Resistance Front) are the offshoots of the LeT or Jaish-e-Mohammad,” he said.

The IGP said three pistols and an AK rifle were recovered from the site of the encounter. The militants were identified as Rayees Ahmad Bhat, who was active since October last year, Amir Shafi Mir, active since last month, Raqib Ahmad Malik, active since December last year, and Aftab Ahmad Wani, active since November last year.

An Army jawan was injured in the encounter and is undergoing treatment at a hospital here, he added. (With PTI inputs)