Three militants killed in Pulwama gunfight

Srinagar, April 02: Three militant were killed in an encounter at GathMohalla area of Kakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.

Official sources said that three militants have been killed in a Gunfight, however identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained.

A top Police officer said that the trapped militants are believed to be responsible for attack on BJP leader’s House in which one cop was killed yesterday in Srinagar.

Earlier Reports said  that a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in Kakapora.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off an gunfight.

Militants killed in Pulwama were involved in attack on BJP leader’s house yesterday: IGP Kashmir

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar  said that attack on BJP leader’s house was carried jointly by militants from Al-Badr and Lashker-e-Toiba and those belonging to latter were killed in a gunfight at Kakapora Pulwama in less than 24 hours.

Addressing a presser here, the top police officer of Kashmir also said that three more persons have been arrested and the vehicle used in the attack belonged to one in whose house the encounter took place at Ghatmohalla area of the Kakapora in the south Kashmir district

“As you know, militants carried attack at Nowgam Srinagar on BJP leader’s house and policeman was killed and a rifle snatched,” he said.

“Srinagar and Pulwama police swiftly moved and in the process arrested a person on whose disclosure two more persons were arrested and ultimately it was revealed that three militants are hiding in house at Ghatmohalla,” he said, adding, “CASO was launched and Security forces were fired upon following they retaliated.

Initially 4 civilians were kept hostage and later they were freed which took time for conclusion of the operation.”
He said that three militants identified as Suhail Lone and Nissar Lone besides one Junaid were killed in the gunfight.

“Suhail Lone had come in Burqa,” the IGP said, adding, “ An Ak-47 rifle, a pistol and one SLR which was snatched from the policeman have been recovered. “

The recovery of the SLR, he said, proves that these militants were involved in the Nowgam attack.

“One new thing has emerged that it was the attack carried in unison by Al-Badr and LeT. Initially we thought all four militants were from Srinagar and were from LeT,” he said.

The militants, he said, had come in an Alto vehicle (JK01E-2098) which has been seized from the house of one Nawaz Dar and he is being booked. “The vehicle belongs to him and it helped us to track the militants immediately,” he said. He said that two other militants who were part of the attack belonged to Srinagar and remained in summer capital of J&K. “Those from Pulwama left and were killed.”

He said one lady suffered minor injuries in cross firing while two or three persons were injured in stone pelting at the gunfight site.

Asked if the BJP leaders faced more threat than others in the Kashmir, the top police officer responded in affirmative.

“As far as I am came concerned, threat is for all political parties. Every person and every party has different threat and I accept that BJP have more threat,” he said, adding, “We are strengthening bunkers and other deployed. We are giving more training to policemen on guard duty so that they can neutralize militants on their own immediately.”

He said SOPs and PSO guard changes are being made. “We are also not deploying those from areas as they go home frequently.”

Asked if the infiltration has come down as claimed by the DGP, he said, “One of the militant (killed) had come recently. May be he had come through Nepal.”

To a question, he said that young people are radicalized on social media by Pakistan and don’t fear. “They are not aware about their family and career,” he said, adding, “I also requested teachers community to play role. Parents have role and also media men.”

He said that six militants are active in Srinagar city and “they will soon be neutralized, arrested or brought back.”