Four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants had been killed in an encounter with safety forces on Monday in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police stated.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Manihal space of the district round midnight, following details about the presence of militants there, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar stated.
He stated the militants refused repeated provides of give up and opened hearth on the forces.
“We appealed to them to surrender and brought their families, including wife and a four-year-old child of a militant, to appeal to them to surrender. But they refused,” he stated.
Kumar stated after the militants opened hearth on the safety forces, there was a gunbattle wherein 4 ultras had been killed.
“All the four were categorised militants belonging to LeT outfit. Although, they call themselves as Lashkar-e-Mustafa, they are listed as LeT militants in our records and all these names, including TRF (The Resistance Front) are the offshoots of the LeT or Jaish-e-Mohammad,” he stated.
The IGP stated three pistols and an AK rifle was recovered from the location of the encounter.
The militants had been recognized as Rayees Ahmad Bhat, who was lively since October final 12 months, Amir Shafi Mir, lively since final month, Raqib Ahmad Malik, lively since December final 12 months and Aftab Ahmad Wani, lively since November final 12 months.
An Army jawan was injured within the encounter and is present process therapy at a hospital right here, he added.
The IGP stated to date this 12 months 9 encounters have taken place within the valley with most of them – eight – in south Kashmir, whereas one within the north.
“In these nine encounters, 19 terrorists have been killed, out of which nine alone were from Shopian district and two were top commanders,” Kumar stated.
He stated 18 youths have joined the militant ranks this 12 months, out of which 5 have been killed in varied encounters and three have been arrested.
“The rest are still active and we have been appealing to their parents to bring them back to the mainstream. Some may return. Also, seven youth who had joined the militancy have been brought back with the help of their families. The parents have increased their trust in the security forces,” he added.
Kumar stated Pakistan was not refraining from its actions and was utilizing social media for inciting and radicalising youth to affix militancy.
“Also, drugs are coming from Pakistan and our youth are being destroyed. I appeal the parents to take care of their children and if anyone is using drugs, then counsel him. They can approach the Police’s drug de-addiction centre and we will help them,” he stated.
The youth not solely be part of militancy attributable to medicine however get entangled in different social evils and crimes, he added.
The IGP stated the police will render all assist to these youth who give up their arms and go away militancy.
“I appeal to those who have taken up arms to surrender whether before an encounter or even during it. We will provide all possible help, you will be accepted and will not face any problem,” he stated.
Referring to the safety scenario within the valley, the IGP stated the main focus of the safety forces was to keep up an environment of peace.
“We would like to maintain two things. The schools and colleges should not be closed which can happen only when there is no incident and the atmosphere is good. Second, we would like to create such an atmosphere that tourists come here in huge numbers so that people here get employment and earn money,” he stated.
Kumar stated whereas there was a decline within the variety of stone-pelting incidents, particularly close to the encounter websites, it was a bigger problem than militancy because it includes the society and results in disruption in day-to-day actions.
“When there is an attack by militants, schools and colleges are not closed, economic activity is not stopped, yatra is not stopped and tourist arrivals do not stop. But, when there is stone-pelting, there is a decrease in the yatra, tourists fear to come and schools and colleges are shut. Stone-pelting is a larger issue which involves society and so we take it more seriously,” the IGP stated.
He stated terrorism doesn’t make a lot distinction to the safety forces compared to stone-pelting and regulation and order points.
“We do not want schools and colleges to be closed, shops and businesses to be shut or tourist arrivals to stop, so the law and order problem is a more serious issue,” he stated.
Kumar stated the police have made a number of arrests at any time when there’s such an incident and plenty of youth have been booked beneath the Public Safety Act.
