SRINAGAR: Security forces have neutralised two out of the 21 wanted terrorists in Kashmir in the three days following the release of a ‘hit list’ after resumption of "Operation All Out" and anti-militancy operations in the State.
A few days after the month-long unilateral Ramzan ceasefire was called off by the Centre, the security forces had released the list of wanted militants.
The list contained names of 11 Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, seven from Lashkar-e-Toiba, two from Jaish-e-Mohammed, one from the Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind and another from Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK).
A majority of militants in the 'hit list' include local insurgents, who had taken up guns before or after Burhan Wani was neutralised by security forces.
The hit list is the second such list prepared by security forces in Kashmir in two years.
In May 2017, a list of 11 most wanted militants was issued and majority of them were killed in encounters with security forces during "Operation All Out", which was launched after surge in terrorist violence in the Valley.
A security official said security forces would be all out going against the militant commanders to make terrorist groups headless, which would in turn render these groups less effective and less threatening.
He said all anti-militancy operations were being carried out on Intelligence-based inputs.
"The militants are again on the run and we will not release the pressure on them. We will continue to be pro-active to deal with militants and foil all their attempts to disturb peace and launch attacks on security installations," the official said.
The names of Hizb militants Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, Altaf Ahmad Dar, Umar Majeed Ganai, Manan Wani (PhD scholar who joined militancy this year), Zeenat-ul-Islam and Junaid Ashraf Sehrai (son of separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai), LeT's Mustaq Ahmad Mir and Naveed Jhatt, JeM's Zahid Ahmad Wani and Mudasir Khan and Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGH's) Zakir Rashid Bhat also figure in the "hit list".
Security forces on June 22 neutralised four militants of ISJK in an encounter in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Among the slain militants was Dawood Ahmad Sofi, who was head of the ISJK and his name had figured in the 'hit list'.
Two days after killing of Dawood, security forces launched another operation in south Kashmir's Kulgam district killing two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants Shakoor Ahmad Dar and Haider.
Shakoor, a divisional commander of LeT had also figured in the hit list.