One cop, 3 militants killed in 2 encounters

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19

A combined team of security forces, including the Army, CRPF and J&K Police, has killed three unidentified terrorists in an encounter in the Shopian area in south Kashmir. In another incident in Budgam district, two policemen were injured, of which one succumbed to his injuries.

According to security forces officials, the forces launched back-to-back two operations against the holed-up terrorists late last night following an intelligence input they received.

Operations in Budgam, Shopian

• In Budgam, security forces had specific information about the presence of a LeT commander and as soon as they launched the operation, they came under heavy firing in which a Special Police Officer was killed and another injured.
• In Shopian, three terrorists were killed. The operation was jointly carried out by the Army, police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following a specific input about the presence of terrorists.

In the operation in Budgam, the officials said they had specific information about the presence of a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander and as soon as they launched the operation, they came under heavy firing in which a Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and another injured.

The injured policeman has been shifted to a hospital, a security official said adding, “We have lost one SPO and another policeman was injured. Reportedly the holed-up Lashkar commander escaped, but search and cordon continues to track him down.”

Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site in Shopian, where three terrorists were killed. The operation was jointly carried out by the Army, police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following a specific input about the presence of terrorists.

A senior J&K Police official said, “Yesterday, the Awantipora police got information about the presence of terrorists in Mandoora village. The police, Army and CRPF cordoned off the area. After terrorists refused appeals of surrender and lobbed grenades, an encounter started. Three terrorists were killed. They were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen.”

“Analysis of metadata of cell phones has revealed IP addresses based in Pakistan. One terrorist was also in contact with top terror commanders in Pakistan. All this data, including the content of the calls, is being analysed. We will present this in court in due time,” he added.

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