8 militants killed in Kashmir in 24 hours; 100 so far this year

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 19

Eight militants, including the two who had taken shelter in a mosque, have been killed in two separate operations that began on Thursday in south Kashmir.

A joint a cordon and search operation was launched at Meej in Pampore Pulwama on Thursday morning after specific information about the presence of militants in the area. 

One militant, whose identity is not known as yet, was killed soon after the operation was launched.  The other two militants, however, managed to take shelter inside a nearby mosque in the area.

A tight cordon was maintained around the mosque and several appeals were made to militants to come out and surrender. 

Police said they used tear smoke shells only and maintained sanctity of the mosque. “Both terrorists hiding inside mosque have been neutralised. No use of firing and IED (to force militants out of mosque). Used tear smoke shells only,” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. “Patience and professionalism worked in the operation.”

He said appeals were made by local Imam to militants to come out, however, the militants refused to surrender. 

Meanwhile, in another anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir’s Shopian district four unidentified militants were killed.

The operation was launched Thursday late afternoon at Bandpava Shopian district. An unidentified was killed yesterday.

“Total five terrorists have been eliminated in Shopian and joint operation in progress,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

With the killing of eight militants in two separate operations since Thursday, security forces have killed 100 militants in Kashmir this year.