J&K: 2 top terrorists killed, M4 rifle seized

Security forces achieved major success on Friday when they killed two top terrorists and recovered a US-made state-of-the-art M4 carbine, which is used by the Pakistan Special Forces, during an anti-terror operation at Agarsuthsoo Kalan on Srinagar's outskirts. Five soldiers were also injured in the gunfight.

The two terrorists killed have been identified as Ali and Idrees, both Pakistani nationals belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

This is the second M4 carbine to have been recovered by the security forces in the Kashmir valley in the last five months. On October 31 last year, security forces killed three top terrorists including Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's nephew Usman Haider and recovered an M4 carbine at Tral in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

On November 7, 2017, security forces killed Talal Rashid, another nephew of Pathankote attack mastermind Moulana Masood Azhar and recovered an M4 carbine rifle in the Aglar-Kandi village, Pulwama.

M4 is the advance carbine version of the old M16 rifle, which the US army used in the Vietnam war. That was 1960 vintage. M4 carbine is a 1990 vintage. It is shorter in length than the M16 and it slightly more effective than the M16.

"We have recovered an M4. It is a different type of a weapon," said Vidhi Kumar Birdhi, deputy inspector general of police, Central Kashmir Range.

Sources said the recovery of an M4 weapon once again exposes the nexus between the jihadi groups and Pakistan army since this weapon is exclusively being used by NATO forces and Pakistani Special Forces. Sources said the forces are not ruling out the possibility of more M4 rifles being in the possession of the terrorists as last year, there was a huge infiltration.

The M4 was recovered after security forces received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists at Agarsuthsoo Kalan.

A joint team of Army, police, and CRPF immediately cordoned off the area and when the security forces were zeroing in on the target house, they came under heavy fire. In the ensuing gunfight, two terrorists were gunned down. "The operation is over. We have eliminated two terrorists. Five soldiers have suffered splinter injuries," said Birdi.

The M4 Rifle

M4 is the advance carbine version of the old M16 rifle, which the US army used in the Vietnam war. That was 1960 vintage. M4 carbine is a 1990 vintage. It is shorter in length than the M16 and it slightly more effective than the M16