Srinagar, June 29
The police today claimed to have killed two top militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, both Pakistanis, and busted its network involved in six suicide attacks here during the past two years. Five police and security force personnel were injured in the encounter near here this morning.
The group was planning some high-profile actions here as well as in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi. The outfit had close links with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the Al-Umar. The group was working under the command of Muzamil, stationed in Pakistan. The police also arrested 20 persons in this connection.
Two Pak nationals, Shahid Ahmad, alias Zulu, from Rawalpindi, central division commander of central Kashmir, and Zahid Hafiz Aarian, alias Nayeem, alias Mousin, were taken to the Astan Pora area, where the police party was attacked. The police retaliated and the two militants were killed as they tried to escape. Three police constables, a constable of the CRPF and a BSF constable were injured in the shootout. A sniper rifle meant to target VIPs, one AK-47 rifle, 170 rounds of AK ammunition, two rifle grenades and two hand grenades were recovered from the site.
The group was planning a ‘fidayeen’ attack on the Bombay Stock Exchange
(BSE). A Pakistani national known as Baber, killed by the Ahmedabad police recently, had been sent by Shahid for some actions in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Shahid had gone to Delhi by Jet Airways flight in February, from where he had gone to Pune and Mumbai and established contacts in Pune and Delhi.
Hours after the arrests, the police in Badgam district noticed four powerful IEDs beside the Chewdara road.
These were aimed at security forces and political leaders. A bomb disposal squad was summoned to defuse these.
A Jaish-e-Mohammad militant, identified as Arshad, alias Jabar-ul-Rehman, a resident of Sirhind in Pakistan, was killed in an encounter at Goshbal in Kupwara district.
One AK rifle, two magazines, 50 rounds and two grenades were recovered from the slain militant.
Militants killed Abdul Majid Mir at Sheikhpora Panzalla last night while Manzoor Ahmad Khan was kidnapped from Bandipora today.
Militants hurled a hand grenade towards security forces at Tral in Pulwama district last evening.
The grenade exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to one person, Fayaz Ahmad Mattoo. He died in hospital today.
Security forces killed one militant at Ghai village in Surankote and two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants at Trech Kandi in Kupwara last night.
A woman was killed and two others injured in a blast at Chowkibal in Kupwara district today.
A blast took place in the Rangwar forest near Chowkibal, resulting in the on-the-spot death of Hafiza. Her husband Abdul Nayeem and another person, Zakir Hussain were injured.
JAMMU: In a pre-dawn swoop, security forces shot dead a top Pakistani militant belonging to the Laskhar-e-Toiba in Poonch district on Tuesday.
Terrorists attacked a patrol party and a police checkpost, injuring two policemen, in separate incidents.
Acting on a tipoff about a possible terrorist movement at Behram Gala, the police and the Army cordoned off the area and intercepted the terrorists.
The militants were asked to surrender but they refused and opened fire at the security forces. In the ensuing gunbattle, one militant was killed and others escaped.
The slain terrorist was identified as Abu Shana. One AK rifle, two magazines, seven grenades, one wireless set and some explosives were recovered from his possession.
In another incident, armed militants opened fire on a police checkpost at Ghambir Mughlan in the Manjakote area of Rajouri district last night, injuring a police constable.
The gunfire continued for about an hour and constable Raj Kumar was injured in the attack.
Militants opened fire at a police patrol party at Bahandore village in Udhampur district last night.
Although the attack was repulsed by the police, one police personnel was injured.
