ThreeJaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with securityforces in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, police officials said.The encounter started in the upper reaches of the forest area of Nagbaeran Tralin Awantipora after police and army launched a search operation early Saturdaymorning, they added.
Vijay Kumar, IGPKashmir, said one of the terrorist killed was Wakeel Shah, who was involved inthe killing of BJP leader Rakesh Pandita. The identity of the other terroristsis still being ascertained, and that search operations were being carried outin the area. Two AK-47 rifles, one SLR and other warlike stores have beenrecovered from the three terrorists neutralised in the Tral encounter.
Kashmir police saidin a tweet, “Three unidentified terrorists affiliated with proscribed terroroutfit JeM killed. Search is going on. Further details shall follow.”
A joint operationbetween the Army and the police, this is the second by security forces in Tralin the past 24 hours, and third since Thursday.
On Friday twoterrorists were killed in Khrew near Srinagar. The police said they were partof a hit squad involved in the murders of civilians in south Kashmir.
A day earlier, ajunior officer of the army was killed during a gunfight with terrorists inRajouri district. A terrorist was also killed in that incident.
The Saturdayencounter was the latest in a series of gunfights as security forcesintensified counter-insurgency operations in the Valley, killing 94 terroristsso far this year. Eight terrorists were killed in separate operations thismonth till Saturday.
A policeman and fourcivilians including three political workers have been killed in suspectedterrorist attacks this month.