Srinagar, Oct 12 (UNI) J&K Police chief on Monday said that as many as 180 militants, including top commanders of different outfits, were killed in 75 successful operations conducted by security forces while 55 personnel were martyred during the last over nine months in Kashmir valley.

Director General of Police, J&K, Dilbag Singh further said that 138 militant associates and active militants were arrested since January this year in the valley. “This year so far 75 successfully operations were conducted by security forces in different parts of the valley. As many as 180 militants were killed during these operations while 138 militant associates and active militants were arrested,” the DGP told reporters during a press conference here on Monday.

“It is in itself a record,” he added.

Mr Singh said that the number of militants killed and arrested is much higher than previous years. “The other important thing is that all the 75 operations were conducted in a neat and clean manner. Unfortunately, a woman was killed during cross firing in Batamaloo encounter. Other than this, the other operations have not witnessed any collateral damage,” he said.

Thanking people, he said this (successfully operations) could not have been done without the cooperation of the civilians.

The DGP said that 55 security force personnel, including 19 from police, 21 from CRPF and 15 from Army, have been martyred since January this year in the valley. “Most of the Army soldiers have been killed at Line of Control (LoC),” he said.

Mr Singh also paid tribute to the martyred jawans.

He said one militant, identified as Firdous, a resident of Doda, surrendered during an encounter in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. “As it is our policy to give change to militants to surrender even during encounter, the militant was taken into custody and is being questioned,” he added.

Giving details about Srinagar encounter, he said a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander, a Pakistani national, was among two militants killed in the exchange of fire.

“The Pakistani militant, identified as Saifullah, was responsible for attack on CRPF at Nowgam in Srinagar last week that left two jawans dead and three others injured,” he said.

“Saifullah is affiliated to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),” he said, adding the militant is also responsible for an attack on CRPF at Chadoora in Budgam in which an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) was killed in September.
UNI ABS SB 1430