Cmdr among 2 LeT terrorists killed, civilian dies in Pulwama encounter

TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/15/2017 12:39:34 AM Front Page

Cop martyred, 2 injured in terrorist attack in Kulgam, Grendae lobbed at CRPF party in downtown

SRINAGAR: In a major achievement, the security forces on Saturday killed the Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Waseem Shah along with his bodyguard in an early morning operation in Litter area of restive South Kashmir's Pulwama district; however, in the clashes that erupted near the encounter site simultaneously, a civilian lost his life.
The state police however lost one of its men later in the evening when terrorists attack its party, resulting in martyrdom of driver of the AST vehicle Khurshid Ahmad Tak while injuries to two others in Nandimarg area of Kulgam district.
Earlier, on Saturday morning, the security forces killed top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Waseem Shah, believed to be the main architect of the unrest last year in south Kashmir and who had a Rs 10 lakh reward on his head, along with his accomplice in Pulwama district.
Shah, 23, also known as 'Abu Osama Bhai' was killed at Litter area in Pulwama, a place considered to be a safe haven for militants. This is the first counter-insurgency operation in Litter area in four years.
Jammu and Kashmir police had been tracking the movements of Shah, who is considered as the 'don' of Heff, another stronghold of militants in South Kashmir's Shopian district.
As per the official spokesperson, "After the information that Shah was at his hideout at Litter was recieved, police and its special operation group team cordoned off the area."
Shah along with his bodyguard Nisar Ahmed Mir made an attempt to flee but could not penetrate the cordon which had been strengthened by the presence of the CRPF and Army, Police said.
Shah, who was wanted in various terror-related cases, was killed along with Nisar, another local who had joined militancy in May this year.
Shah, a resident of Heff-Shrimal in Shopian, joined militancy in 2014 and was considered as the 'chief architect' of last year's unrest in various parts of South Kashmir.
Born in a middle class family of Gul Mohammed Shah, who ran a fruit business, Shah was a college dropout and an active supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group since his school days when he had doubled up as a courier boy for the outfit, police said.
Of late, Shah, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was recruiting fresh cadres for the militant outfit.
He had been involved in various attacks on security forces in south Kashmir, police said.
However, a civilian was killed as stone- pelting protestors clashed with security personnel near the site of the said encounter.
Police claimed that the victim, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was caught in the cross-fire between the militants and security forces, but some locals alleged that he was killed in the action by security personnel against the protestors.
Soon after the encounter of two LeT terrorists, a group of people started throwing stones at the security forces, eyewitnesses said.
They claimed that six persons, including Mir, were injured in the security forces' action.
Mir succumbed to injuries at a hospital here.
Four injured persons were taken to a local hospital for treatment and another injured is admitted to a Srinagar hospital, the eyewitnesses claimed.
Meanwhile, a policeman was martyred and two others were injured in a terrorist attack in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, on Saturday evening.
Official sources said a police team on duty for medical camp, comprising the AST team and a bunker vehicle while returning from duty was fired upon by the hiding militants at Nandinarg crossing under the police jurisdiction D.H. Pora.
The police party retaliated the attack and due to brave retaliatory action, police foiled the attempt of weapon snatching conspired by the militants.
"During the attack the driver of the AST vehicle Khurshid Ahmad Tak got injured in the firing of the militants. Despite being injured he displayed conspicuous act of courage by successfully taking the vehicle out of arch of fire and saved life of others. He attained martyrdom in the process," police said.
The officer is survived by aged parents, wife, 3-year old daughter and 2-year old son.
The state police has paid rich tribute to the brave heart Khurshid Ahmed.
"We stand by the martyr's family at this critical juncture. Our heartfelt condolences for the loss of young, promising and committed police official," the police said.
The police also said that perpetrators behind this attack have been identified as Gulzar Paddar group and Umar Majid Ganie group of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit.
"In this connection investigation was also set into motion," they said.
In yet another incident at downtown, Srinagar, terrorists hurled a hand grenade at Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party on Saturday.
Official sources said that the terrorists hurled a hand grenade towards CRPF at Braripora, Safa Kadal.
However, the grenade did not explode, they said, adding that the entire area was sealed and a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was summoned.
The grenade was removed from the spot. Later, traffic and other activities resumed in the area after about an hour.


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