Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) Describing the killing of three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama forests on Saturday as major success, Senior army and police officers said ultras killing civilians and later hiding in the woods will not escape the death.
Addressing a joint press conference at Awantipora this afternoon Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, K Vijay Kumar and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Victor Force south Kashmir Major General Rashim Bali said the operation was launched in the Tral forest based on human intelligence received by police and Army headquarters.
Despite difficult terrain and other odds, 42 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police worked in a close coordination and encircled the militants, they said adding finally in the encounter all the three JeM militants were killed.
Maj General Bali said these militants were active in the area since long. IGP Kumar said we were getting information about these militants for the past some time that they were hiding in the huts of Gujjars. They said it is reported that they were harassing them and their women besides damaging their property.
We launched the operation based on the information and eliminated the militants without any collateral damage or injury to any members of Gujjar families living in the woods , they said.
IGP said one of the slain militant identified as Wakeel Shah was involved in the killing of BJP leader Rakesh Pandita on June 2, 2021 in Tral.
They said security forces are getting information about the movement of militants and immediately operations are being launched.
To a question they said militants will not escape from the death even if they hide in the forests or any other place.
About the recent political killings, particularly in the south Kashmir, IGP said people, particularly those associated with political parties are being targeted by militants. However, he said, it is not possible to provide security to every leader. But, he said, security to politicians are being provided as per threat perception.
We will provide proper security to those who are facing threat, he said.
A BJP sarpanch and his panch wife besides another BJP leader and Apni Party leaders were killed by militants in south Kashmir during the past about a week.
UNI BAS SHK1628