SRINAGAR: A top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in a brief encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
A police official said a police and paramilitary CRPF men had set up a Naka at Banderpora, Quil area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
“The security personnel deployed at the Naka signalled a vehicle to stop. However, instead of stopping, a militant travelling in the vehicle fired towards the security personnel. The fire was returned by the troops and in the brief gunfight, the militant was killed,” he said.
The police official identified the slain militant as Lashkar’s district commander Ayub Lelhari, a local.
A policeman was also injured in the brief shootout.
Police sources said security men arrested a driver of the vehicle and his questioning was going on.
A police official termed Lelhari’s killing as another major jolt to Lashkar. “It is yet another success in fight against militancy”.
On August 1, Lashkar’s Kashmir chief and most wanted militant Abu Dujana along with two of his associates was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir.
Dujana, who had infiltrated into Valley in 2010, was the brain behind most militant attacks in the Valley in last two years. He carried a bounty of Rs 15 lakhs.
Meanwhile, Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar told reporters on sidelines of a function in Srinagar today that seven militant commanders have been killed by security forces in Valley this year.
He said overall 132 militants have been killed by security forces during gun battles in Valley this year so far.
CRPF jawan injured in grenade attack succumbs
A CRPF jawan, who was injured in August 14 grenade attack by militants in Magam area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, succumbed to injuries today.
The deceased was identified as Constable Reyaz Ahmad.
He was among the three CRPF and a police man injured in grenade attack on August 14.
He was undergoing a treatment at a Srinagar hospital, where he succumbed today.
Soldier injured in Pakistani firing dies
Defence spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said Havaldar Narendra Singh, who had sustained bullet injuries in Pakistan troops firing in Rampur sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on August 7, succumbed to injuries at a military hospital in Srinagar today.
He said 43-year-old Singh had joined Army in 1994.
He hailed from Village Haripur in Dehradun and is survived by wife Asha Devi and two young daughters.
“In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family of the deceased and remains committed to their dignity and well being,” Kalia said.