Four Lashkar, Hizb militants killed in Anantnag encounter

SRINAGAR: Four terrorists, belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfits, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district on Sunday.
Acting on specific information, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Dar Mohalla Watarigam area of Dialgam in the south Kashmir district on Sunday morning, a police spokesman said.
He said during the search operation, the terrorists fired upon the search party of the forces.
“The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter in which four terrorists were killed,” the spokesman said.
The slain terrorists have been identified as Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat son of Mohammad Amin Bhat, Omar Ameen Bhat son of Mohd Ameen Bhat, both residents of Sopat Tangpora in Kulgam, and Sajad Ahmed Bhat son of Mohd Subhan resident of Tengbal Frisal and Gulzar Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Salam Bhat resident of Hirpora Tarigam, Kulgam.
Three of the slain terrorists -- Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat—also the district commander, Omar Ameen Bhat and Sajad Ahmed Bhat -- were affiliated with LeT, while Gulzar Ahmed Bhat belonged to HM, the spokesman said.
Two AK 47 rifles, two pistols, ammunition and other incriminating material have been recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said, adding all the slain militants were involved in several terror crime cases.
As per police records, Muzzafar had a history of terror crime cases since 2017. He was involved in 7 different cases U/S 7/25 Arms Act, 302 IPC, 18, 19, 20, 39 ULAP Act.
Gulzar Ahmad Bhat was involved in a case U/S 13, 18, 38, 39 ULAP Act of PS Kulgam while Sajad Ahmad was also involved in a case U/S 13, 20 ULAP Act.
Similarly, terrorist Omar was involved in 3 FIR's U/S 13,16, 18, 20, 39 ULAP Act.
The security forces also unearthed a hideout inside the washroom of the house of one Fayaz Ahamd Dar where the militants were killed in the encounter.
Meanwhile, a militant was arrested during a cordon and search operation in Baramulla district.
The militant was identified as Danish Kakroo, resident of Chesti Colony in Baramulla, a police official said.
“Weapon and War like stores have been recovered from the terrorist and further probe in under way,” he said.
In a separate incident, police apprehended two persons from Alstop Mirbazar in district Kulgam of South Kashmir.
One of them has been identified as Parveez Ahmad Mantoo, resident of Khudwani Kulgam, while the identity of the other is being ascertained, the official said.
He said police recovered a pistol, three grenades and some cash from them.