J&K: 13 terrorists killed, 3 jawans martyred in anti-terror operations, 4 civilians dead in clashes

Terror groups in the Valley suffered a major setback on Sunday as 13 terrorists were gunned down in counter-insurgency operations in three different areas in South Kashmir in which three Army jawans and four civilians were also killed.

"Encounter concluded. Two more terrorist bodies recovered from Shopian encounter site. In all 13 terrorists neutralised, three soldiers martyred and one terrorist caught alive. It’s unfortunate that stone pelting around encounter site cost four civilian deaths," Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Paul Vaid wrote in a Tweet late in the evening on Sunday. 

Encounter concluded. One more terrorist body recovered from Shopian encounter site. In all 12 terrorists neutralised (one more being ascertained), 3 soldiers martyred and 1 terrorist caught alive. It’s unfortunate that stone pelting around encounter site cost 4 civilian deaths. https://t.co/1hD4qPid45

— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) April 1, 2018

Earlier on Sunday, at a hurriedly called joint press conference of army, police and CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid said this is one of the biggest counter-offensives in recent times against terror groups operating in the Kashmir Valley.

Photos of Army personnel Gunner Arvinder Kumar, Gunner Nilesh Singh & Sepoy Hetram who lost their lives in Anantnag & Shopian encounters today. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/j5kNsX24hC

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2018

Three martyred soldiers have been identified as Sepoy Hetram, Gunner Nilesh Singh, and Gunner Arvinder Kumar.

Hailing from Sonigassar Godars village of Bikaner district of Rajasthan, twenty-five-year-old Sepoy Hetram had joined the army on December 25, 2013.

Hailing from Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh Gunner Nilesh Kumar,31 had joined the army on December 2, 2003.

Hailing from Village Sariana of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, Gunner Arvinder Kumar had joined the army on June 26, 2012.

The operations by security forces rendered a severe dent to militant groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Taiba, officials said here.

Three army jawans have lost their lives in the operations at Kachdooru in Shopian, officials said, adding three bodies of militants have been recovered from the debris so far.
The operation has been called off at Kachdooru and the security personnel will search the debris tomorrow again, the officials said.

Earlier, at a press conference called at Victor Force headquarters at Awantipura, around 33 kms from here, Corps Commander of XV Corps, Lt Gen A K Bhatt, termed it one of the biggest operations in recent times and said the death of Lt Umar Fayaz, who was brutally killed in Shopian last year, had been avenged.

"Among the militants killed are Ishfaq Malik and Rayees Thokar. They were responsible for his death," Bhatt said.
Fayaz, 22, was killed by militants in May last year. His body was found with bullet wounds in the Hermain area of Shopian district in south Kashmir.

Based on the specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants and high-value targets, security forces launched three counter-terror operations in Anantnag and Shopian districts of the South Kashmir on Saturday night.

Seven militants including top commanders were killed in a fierce encounter in the Dragad village of the Shopian district. The encounter broke out when security forces cordoned off the area following specific information about the presence of large group of militants in the area.

Two Army jawans and two civilians were also killed during the encounter. Whereas, two civilians were killed and dozens of others injured in clashes that broke out between protestors and security forces following the encounter.

"Out of the 7 terrorists killed, 2 terrorists were involved in the killing of Indian Army Lt Ummer Fayaz," said the Army officer.

Meanwhile, violence was reported in parts of the valley following the killing of militants.

When the forces were closing in on the target, they came under heavy fire in which few soldiers were injured. Security forces immediately retaliated and in the ensuing gunfight seven militants have been killed so far.

Another encounter at Kachdoora village broke out after security forces launched an operation to flush out the militants from the village as several civilians were trapped.  

Shopian district off late had witnessed a quantum jump in the attacks on the security forces.

On March 26 militants struck again on Monday when they attacked the cavalcade of the commanding officer of 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) with automatic weapons at Kachdora village in the Shopian district.

On March 19 militants made an abortive bid on the life of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Shopian district, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar when they attacked his cavalcade with automatic weapons near Harmen village.

In a separate operation in Peth -Dialgam village of Anantnag district, a local militant was killed while another surrendered before the security forces.

Police said on specific input regarding the presence of militants security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Peth Dialgam area. 

“As the search started and the location of militants was zeroed in, the security forces made repeated requests on loudspeaker asking them to surrender, as per the Standard Operating Procedure. On this one of the terrorists came out of the house and surrendered before the forces. He has been taken into custody”, said a police spokesman. 

Police said that the family of the militant who surrendered at the encounter site also helped the cops in motivating him to come out of the house and turn himself in.

“The other did not do so and instead resorted to firing on the forces which was retaliated and in which he was killed. He was identified as Rouf Khanday. Rouf had gone missing early this year and his Gun yielding photograph had come on social media in last week of March. Both of them belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen”, said the spokesman.

(With PTI inputs)