Politics Insight News Without Politics
(Pi Bureau)
Srinagar : Lashkar-e-Toiba’s (LeT) chief commander Abu Dujana – most wanted terrorist of Kashmir and his close aide were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district . Dujana had escaped five times earlier but this time he could not flee. His killing comes as a major boost for security forces seeking to wipe out militancy and terrorism in the Kashmir Valley. Dujana had a Rs 30 lakh prize on his head.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid had earlier today said: “We are yet to recover the dead bodies, will tell you their identities after that.” This, after two to three LeT terrorists were trapped and gunshots were heard during a search operation by security forces in Hakripora village of the district.
The J&K police also said, they were “acting on specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in Hakripora village of Pulwama, following which security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area.”
Sources said that the operation against the terrorists began after a tip-off. Security forces surrounded the house and began operations around 4:30 am on Tuesday morning.
Dujana was believed to be on the first floor of the house, along with an aide.
After prolonged firing between the two groups, which according to sources lasted till 9:30 am, security forces set fire to the house in order to flush Dujana and his aide, Arif, out. Sources have said the Lashkar commander and his aide were killed after being trapped in the debris.
Bodies of both the terrorists have been recovered and are said to be partially charred.
As soon as news of the operation broke, civilians and stone-pelters gathered in the area. The protestors clashed with security forces, leaving 2 people injured in the clashes.
Vaid also said, “Over 100 ‘miscreants’ started pelting stones at security forces involved in the anti-militancy operation in Hakripora area of Pulwama. The security forces used tear smoke shells, pellets and fired few live rounds to disperse the stone- pelting protestors.”
The terrorists opened fire during the operation, prompting retaliation from the forces which triggered a gunbattle, he said. With the killing of these two terrorists, the encounter has now ended.
The operation was carried out by 182 Battalion, 183 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group (SOG) at 4: 30 am on Tuesday morning in Hakripora village.
