Anantnag, Nov 01: Four militants were killed in separate encounter at Khandipora area of Awantipora area of Pulwama district and at Semthan village of Bijbhera in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, police said Tuesday.

Police said that slain LeT commander identified as Mukhar Bhat along with foreign militant were planning a fidayeen strike on the security forces’ camps.

“01 #terrorist killed in #Bijbehara encounter. Operation going on,” the J&K police tweeted. A police official said that the identity and affiliation of the slain was being ascertained.

Earlier, an official had said that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched a search operation in the area.

He had said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated to, triggering an encounter.

He had said that the exchange of fire was going on and two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area.

Police said that another encounter broke out in Khandipora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday evening. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted that “03 terrorists killed in Awantipora encounter. Identification being ascertained. As per our source, 1 is FT & 1 local terrorist of LeT namely Mukhtiyar Bhat, involved in several terror crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. A big success for us.” In another tweet, the ADGP said: “LeT Commander Mukhar Bhat among the three terrorists killed. As per source, he along with foreigner was going for fidayeen attack on security forces camp. One Ak 47 riffle, one AK-56 riffle, and one pistol recovered. Awantipore police and army averted a major terror incident.” Police said that Semthan, Bijbhera, Anantnag encounter was going on.

Police Statement: A police spokesman in a statement said that Police along with security forces have neutralised four militants in twin anti-terrorist operations in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Awantipora districts. “Police along with Army (3rd RR) launched a cordon and search operation at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag following input regarding presence of terrorist in the area,” the spokesman said.

He said that as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively by the joint party leading to an encounter.

“In the ensuing encounter, one local terrorist identified as Shakir Ahmad son of Habibullah resident of Ladermud was killed,” the statement said.  “As per Police records the killed terrorist was linked with proscribed terror outfit HM and was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.”

Police said that similarly, on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of terrorists in Khandipora area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army (55RR) in the area.

“As the joint party approached towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately on the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the statement said. “In the ensuing encounter 03 terrorists were killed. Among the killed terrorists, 01 is a foreign terrorist and another one is a LeT terrorist commander identified as Mukhtar Bhat while as the identification of the third killed terrorist is being ascertained.”

The police said that as per police records all the killed terrorists were involved in several terror crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. “As per source, Mukhtar Bhat along with foreign militant was going for fidayeen attack on security force camp,” it said.