SRINAGAR: In a major setback to the terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir, 13 terrorists were gunned down in counter-insurgency operations in three different areas on Sunday. The encounters, which have now concluded, also left three Army jawans and four civilians dead.
A terrorist has been caught alive, reported news agency ANI. Mobile Internet services have been suspended in the Kashmir Valley following encounters at Anantnag, Shopian's Dragad and Kachdoor.
"The Encounters have concluded. Two more terrorist bodies have been recovered from Shopian encounter site. In all 12 terrorists have been neutralised, three soldiers have been martyred and one terrorist has been caught alive. It's unfortunate that stone pelting incidents around encounter site cost four civilian deaths," said SP Vaid, DGP J&K.
The three Army personnel who lost their lives in Anantnag and Shopian encounters have been identified as Gunner Arvinder Kumar, Gunner Nilesh Singh and Sepoy Hetram.
Photos of Army personnel Gunner Arvinder Kumar, Gunner Nilesh Singh & Sepoy Hetram who lost their lives in Anantnag & Shopian encounters today. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/j5kNsX24hC
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2018
Among the terrorists killed, Rayees Ahmad Thoker and Ishfaq Ahmad Malik are the ones who shot dead Indian Army officer Lt. Ummer Fayyaz in May 2017. The other terrorists include Nazim Dar, Adil Thoker, Ubaid Malla, Yawar Ahmad Yatoo and Zubair Ahmad Turay.
At a hurriedly called joint press conference of Army, police and CRPF, J&K Police chief SP Vaid said this was one of the biggest counter-offensives in recent times against terror groups operating in the Kashmir Valley.
Briefing on the operation, an Army officer said, "There was a design to help the terrorists. But our operations won't stop because of some people who are under the influence of anti-nationals."
He further said that incidents of stone pelting have gone up in recent times. "We will act against those stone pelters who try to help terrorists at encounter site by pelting stones on security forces," said the Army.
AK 43, AK 47 and rifles were also recovered. The encounters began late on Saturday night. Police and Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 3 RR, 34 RR, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were part of the operation.
