Srinagar, 16-Mar: Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (TRF) were killed in an encounter between security between in Nowgam area of Srinagar district early this morning.Official sources told that one militant was killed earlier while two more were killed taking the number of slain to three.Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed that these three militants of LeT were involved in recent killing of Sarpanch Sameer Bhat.Bhat was critically injured on 9th march as he received two bullets in his chest near his home in Khanmoh. He was immediately shifted to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, where doctors operated him. However he succumbed to his injuries latter. “Two slain have been identified as Adil Teli, Saqib Tantray of Shopian and the third one is most probably Umer Teli. We have called Umer’s family for identification,” the IGP said, adding that the three slain were involved in the killing of Sarpanch Sameer Ahmed Bhat of Khonmoh. He said that one AK-47 riffle, and two pistols were recovered from the slain.“This module was targeting Panchayat representatives as their masters don’t want grassroots democracy to flourish here,” the Kashmir police chief said.He said police have busted all the modules involved in the killing of Sarpanchs. “We also busted the module involved in the killing of a CRPF man and a TA soldier in Budgam. Only once case was pending, that of Sarpanch Sameer, and with today’s encounter, that too stands solved,” he said, adding that adequate steps have been taken to ensure safe accommodations to Sarpanchs and Panchs in Kashmir.Meanwhile, Police has stated that Adil Teli along with his associates was also involved in killing of Inspector Pervaiz Ahmad Dar at Menganwari Nowgam on 22/06/2021, killing of Javaid Ahmed Malik at Lurgam Tral. Besides, he was also involved in grenade attack on joint party of Police & CRPF at Barbarshah Srinagar in which one civilian was killed and three civilians were injured.Similarly, Shakir Ahmad & Yasir Ahmad were also involved in several terror crime cases including killing of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near PS Bijbehara, Anantnag on 22/12/2021.Earlier, a joint team of security forces, after receiving information about the presence of militants, launched a search operation in the area. As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.(CNS)
