Srinagar, March 23
Three police personnel and a CRPF constable lost their lives in a fierce encounter with militants on the outskirts of Srinagar today in which they succeeded in killing a top-ranking LeT militant.
The gunfight ensued after the police joined by the CRPF surrounded a house in Telbal locality, where some militants were hiding as per their information. The firing went on for over three hours and one militant managed to flee, sources said.
However, security forces killed the most dreaded militant, Abu Faisal, who is a foreigner and has been the “divisional commander” of the outfit.
The number of casualties, something they have not suffered in this number in a long time, has turned the mood sombre in the police force, which has also been left two injured, including a sub-inspector.
The sources said the militants got a whiff of the security forces encircling them and launched a grenade and gun attack on them, taking them by surprise. It’s in this sudden burst of fire that the forces suffered casualties, as they were still taking position, an official said.
The police said the slain militant commander was
responsible for terrorist activities in the Ganderbal area and had been moved to Srinagar to boost militant activities in the capital. “His killing comes as a major blow to the militant outfit,” a police spokesperson said.
Divisional commanders are on the top of the command structure of the LeT and the police and the Army had killed a divisional commander a few days back in Sopore in which a Lieut-Colonel and a sepoy were killed as well.
The policemen, who laid down their lives, are Sg.Ct Bashir Ahmed, constables Mohammad Kabir and Irshad Ahmad. Constable Sham Singh of the CRPF was also killed.
