Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed, JeM associate arrested

Militant numbers dwindle; only 250 active: DGP

SRINAGAR: In yet another successful operation, two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Anantnag district on Friday night, even as a terrorist associate linked to the proscribed terror outfit was arrested in Sopore.
With this operation, the number of terrorists killed in this year has increased to 25, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh informed, adding that the number of listed militants in Kashmir has come down to less than 250.
“On a credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Gund Baba Khali area of Sangam area of Bijbehara town in District Anantnag. During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” a police official said.
In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
“They have been identified as Naveed Ahmad Bhat alias Furqaan, a resident of Qaimoh in Kulgam, and Aqib Yaseen Bhat, a resident of Wanpora Qaimoh, also in Kulgam,” DGP Singh told reporters here.
Singh described the encounter as another successful counter-terrorist operation by security forces in the valley, adding the gunfight took place during the night and some arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.
The DGP said Naveed Ahmad Bhat had joined the LeT outfit in 2018 and was involved in a number of terror incidents.
"Seven FIRs stand registered against him. He was involved in carrying out attacks on police and security forces camps, firing on civilians, threatening and intimidating people and shopkeepers and pasting posters post the abrogation of Article 370,” Singh said.
He said Aqib Yaseen Bhat was active since June 2019 and was also involved in a number of terror incidents.
“Aqib was involved in several terror crime cases including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. Several terror crime cases were also registered against him including case FIR No. 34/2019 and 03/2020 of PS Qaimoh,” he said.
The DGP said the number of militants active in Kashmir has come down and less than 250 militants are active in the valley now, while asserting that action against terrorists will continue.
He also said there has been confirmation of only three militants infiltrating into the Valley through the International Border so far this year.
"The number of listed militants has come down from what it was earlier. Around 240 to 250 listed militants are there in the valley," the DGP told reporters at a press conference here.
He said in the last two months, the number of reported and confirmed infiltrated militants is three.
"One of them a JeM militant was killed in an operation in Tral recently, Singh added.
He said nearly a dozen successful operations have taken place till now in 2020, which included 10 in the Kashmir valley and two in the Jammu region.
"Till now, 25 terrorists have been killed in these operations. Nine terrorist operatives have been arrested in the valley, while three or four in Jammu. More than 40 OGWs (overground workers) -- who were involved in promoting and supporting terror activities in some form or the other -- have been arrested," the DGP said.
Referring to the misuse of social media through virtual private networks (VPNs), Singh said more cases had come to the fore and police was acting tough against them.
"More cases of misuse of social media have come to the fore. Waseem Dar, a resident of Handwara, was arrested for posting some irresponsible content on (social) media with intent to instigate the public sentiment. We are taking notice of such incidents and action will be taken," he said.
Asked about an SSP-rank officer receiving threats on social media, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, who flanked the DGP at the presser, said police will take action against the person.
"The account name (from which threat was received) is Hafiz Suhail. We have verified and the user's real name is Suhail Wali, a resident of Dalipora Pulwama. We conducted a search at his house but his parents told us he is presently in Dubai. A case will be registered against him and we will take further action," the IGP said.
An official statement issued by police late night said that the Cyber police registered a case vide FIR 03 of 2020 under relevant sections of law at Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar.
To a question about the security arrangements for a proposed march here by Kashmiri Pandits, the DGP said, "First, there should be permission by the civil administration and when that is there, we will take adequate precautions."
In a separate incident, Police in Sopore arrested a terrorist associate linked to proscribed terror outfit LeT.
Identified as Muzamil Ahmad War resident of Warpora Sopore, the associate as per police records, was involved in assisting the active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT operating in the areas of Sopore.
As per the investigations, he was providing logistic support and shelter to the active terrorists of LeT operating in the areas of Sopore.