Srinagar, Nov 7 (UNI) Thanking Pakistan for owning up a militant killed during an encounter in south Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Muneer Khan said on Tuesday Pakistan will be asked to claim the body of Talha Rasheed, nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Pakistan based chief Moulana Masood Azhar.
'I’m thankful that for the first time Pakistan has owned a militant killed in Kashmir in an encounter on Monday. He is the nephew of Moulana Azhar. It has already been confirmed by JeM spokesperson to local media,' said Mr Khan, while addressing a press conference where he was flanked by GOC Victor Force Major General B S Raju and IG CRPF Ravideep Singh Shahi here.
He said now 'we will take up the matter through proper channel and request Pakistan to please claim the body of the slain militant.'
They (JeM) have confirmed that the killed militant is a Pakistani national, he added.
Giving details about the encounter, Major General Raju said three JeM militants were killed in a swift joint operation by Army, police and CRPF. “Three JeM militants were killed in the encounter,” he said.
“One of the slain militants was Wasim Ahmad Gania. Ganai was a local recruit and a category C militant. He was the main person supporting and guiding the JeM militants who were killed alongwith him,” he said.
GOC Victor Force said the prize catch of this operation were the two A++ category militants. “Talha Rasheed, nephew of JeM Pakistan based chief Moulana Masood Azhar. It has been admitted by the JeM,” Maj Gen Raju said.
He said the third militant killed was Mehmood Bhai, again from A++category. “Mehmood is the divisional commander of JeM and an important catch,” he added.
The Jammu and Kashmir police had in the past also approached the Pakistan High Commission via the Union Home Ministry to take the body of Abu Dujana, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) 'commander' gunned down in south Kashmir in August this year.
Dujana was later buried in a graveyard in north Kashmir district of Baramulla after there was no response from Pakistan.
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