Kashmir: Security forces kill 8 militants in last 24 hours; 100 killed so far this year
At least 8 militants have been killed in two separate operations that started on Thursday morning in south Kashmir. Two of them had taken shelter in a mosque. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Meej in Pampore, Pulwama on Thursday after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
Soon after the operation was launched, one militant, whose identity is yet to be known was killed while the other two militants managed to take shelter inside a nearby mosque in the area. Likewise, a tight cordon was maintained around the mosque while the security forces had appealed to militants to come out and surrender.
According to the police, they used only tear smoke shells and maintained the sanctity of the mosque. The terrorists hiding inside the mosque were neutralised. The forces used tear smoke shells only, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. He added that there was patience and professionalism in the operation.
He also stated that the local Imam had appealed to militants to come out. However, the militants refused to surrender. In another operation in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, 4 unidentified terrorists were neutralised. Reportedly, around 100 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year.
Likewise, the IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated “Team Kashmir" for completing a century on the front of anti-terrorist operations. GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen Baggavalli Somashekar Raju said that "We have neutralised eight terrorists in two different operations."
He added that "I must specifically mention the one in which we neutalised 3 terrorists (in Pampore's Meej) who were next to the mosque. Extreme restraint was exercised by the security forces to ensure that no damage was caused to the structure." He further said that "I compliment the 'awam' of Kashmir because they're believing in peace & it is their belief which is leading to these successful operations & I'm sure that at the end of next few months they'll be able to take this process forward & ensure that normalcy is brought in."
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"Of the 49 new recruits who got enrolled into ranks of terrorist tanzims, 27 have been neutralised. It doesn't give us any pleasure to neutralise these boys but if anybody takes up arms and causes harm to others, we'll do what we're doing," he added. "It gives me immense pleasure to say that complete last year and about 5 and a half months of this year have been one of the most peaceful months we had, in terms of handling law and order in general and around the operation sites. It happened only because people are cooperating," he further said.
-PTC News
