Twitter
Advertisement

India, Pakistan LoCked in a battle of bullets, hunt on for LeT commander Abu Ismail

Forces kill 3 terrorists, lose two of their own; hunt on for Abu Ismail

Latest News
article-main
Indian security force personnel stand at the site of a gunbattle between Indian police and militants on Monday in which seven Hindu pilgrims were killed, in Boateng village in south Kashmirs Anantnag district July 11, 2017. (Reuters)
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Two soldiers were martyred when the Pakistan Army opened unprovoked fire in north Kashmir's Kupwara on the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday, prompting an "appropriate" response from the Indian side.

The two soldiers — Lance Naik Ranjit Singh and Rifleman Satish Bhagat — were from Jammu. Singh hailed from Burn village in Bhalwal tehsil and is survived by his wife Neha Devi. Bhagat belonged to Guhrasinghu and is survived by his mother Kamlesh Kumari. "We're giving an appropriate reply," said a senior Army official.

The blatant ceasefire violation came soon after Indian forces killed three Pakistan-backed terrorists in an overnight encounter in central Kashmir's Budgam. Forces launched a cordon-and-search operation on Tuesday evening after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. This led to an encounter that killed Aaqib Gul, Javaid Ahmad Sheikh and Sajid Ahmad.

Meanwhile, Indian forces launched a massive manhunt for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and Pakistani national Abu Ismail and his associates who, the J&K police said, planned and executed Monday's terror attack that killed 9 Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag.

Security forces have increased presence through area domination operations across the Yatra route from Jammu's base camp to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva following the attack on a Jammu-bound bus that also left 19 pilgrims wounded, sparking nationwide outrage and protests.

Sources said that forces have streamlined their intelligence grid to track Ismail.

Ismail and his group had attacked the Amarnath pilgrims, mostly from Gujarat and Maharashtra, returning from the shrine.

Security forces are using both human and technical intelligence to hunt down Ismail and other terrorists in south Kashmir, particularly in Kulgam, Anantnag and Shopian districts.

"I have to compliment the security forces and the state director general of police for the breakthrough in identifying the group within a few hours of the attack. I am sure they will proceed further and come out with more information which would be critical to us," said Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

The entire Yatra route has been sanitised again. "The whole security apparatus has been put on high alert and instructions have been issued to keep road-opening parties strengthened till late hours," said Union Minister Hansraj Ahir.

Security forces are also looking into any lapses that could have led to the attack. "We are not in denial. I have never been so. As the minister (Ahir) said, we will investigate everything," said Singh.

The 20-something Ismail is considered to be the deputy of LeT's Kashmir chief Abu Dujana. Sources said Ismail is effectively heading the Pakistan-based terror outfit as Dujana, also a Pakistani national, has been sidelined due to the differences within the group. He is touted to officially replace Dujana soon.

Ismail has been operating in south Kashmir for 30 months, having been part of almost all attacks on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. He is wanted in many cases. Sources said Ismail has been trying to fill in the space left by the killing of Bashir Lashkari and Junaid Matoo.

ON GUARD

  • Security forces are using both human and technical intelligence to hunt down Ismail and other terrorists.
     
  • The entire Yatra route has been sanitised again. Forces are also looking into security lapses.
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement