A foreign militant killed, another escapes
Northlines Correspondent|Srinagar| Aug 13: Militants made abortive attempts to cause widespread disturbance ahead of 75th Independence Day (ID) celebrations in the Kashmir valley by attacking a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy, planting a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and lobbing hand grenade during the past 24 hours.
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants attacked the BSF convoy at Malpora on Thursday late afternoon after which they were cornered. “The militants took refuge in a nearby building. One militant managed to flee from the spot after initial firing,” the official said. “The intermittent exchange of fire remained on and in the wee hours on Friday, one militant body was recovered from the encounter site.”
“The slain militant has been identified as Usman, a resident of Pakistan, who was affiliated with LeT. He has been active for the past six months,” the IGP said.
The police spokesman said that arms and ammunition including RPG Launcher-01, RPG rounds-04, AK series rifle-01, AK magazines-03 and two grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter. “Pertinently, after a long time militants have used an RPG,” he said. “In operation two security force personnel received injuries, whereas two civilians were also injured far away from the site by stray projectiles. The joint team also safely evacuated 22 civilians including shopkeepers, elderly, women and children.”
Describing the killing of LeT militant Usman and recovery of RPG a major success for security forces, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, K Vijay Kumar said the slain militant (Usman) was an associate of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top foreign commander Lamboo alias Adnan who was also killed in an encounter recently.
Attack on BSF convoy and recovery of RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade which was being used in early 90s in Kashmir and Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan to target camps and bunkers), besides other arms and ammunition were also recovered from Usman in Kulgam encounter which ended this morning confirms Pakistani's involvement, Mr Kumar said.
However, another militant fled from the encounter site at Kulgam where an encounter ensued after a BSF convoy was attacked at Malpora Mirbazar in Kulgam on the highway yesterday afternoon.
Traffic on the highway was disrupted for about 20 hours as a precautionary measure because of the Kulgam encounter.
After a long time RPG was recovered from a militant after an encounter. In the early 90s militants were using sophisticated weapons, particularly RPG to target security force bunkers and camps from a distance in the Kashmir valley. During the I-Day and Republic Day celebrations, militants were firing rockets, grenades and other explosives towards the main venue of these functions at Bakshi Stadium. However, from 1996 such attacks were prevented after the government imposed curfew restrictions besides intensified night and foot patrolling in and around the venue during these functions.
Security forces in the border have recovered RPG and other heavy weapons in the 20s also.
This is for the first time after more than two decades RPG was recovered at the encounter site after the killing of a militant.
Militants also had planted a powerful IED on the roadside at Dadsar Tral in Pulwama to target security forces in the wee hours of Friday. However, the Road Opening Party (ROP) detected the IED which was later defused by Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) without causing any damage. Had it not been detected and defused it would have caused much damage to life and property, official sources said.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan and two civilians were injured in a militant hand grenade attack near State Bank of India (SBI) in the main town of apple township of Sopore in Baramulla district.
The IGP Kumar said security forces have already been put on high alert in the valley, including Srinagar, where drones are being used to keep a strict vigil on the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
All roads leading to S K cricket stadium in the high security Sonawar area have been closed for any civilian movement. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha unfurl the national flag and also salute at the march-past on August 15.
Similar I-Day celebrations will also be held at all district and tehsil headquarters in the valley. (with inputs from agencies)
