Srinagar, June 14: Security forces achieved a major success and averted a possible threat to the Amarnath Yatra by killing two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in an overnight encounter here, police said on Tuesday.
Five policemen were also wounded in the gunfight.
Police said two militants identified as Abdullah Goujri resident of Faisalabad Pakistan and Adil Hussain Mir alias Sufian a resident of Pahalgam, Anantnag were killed in a gun battle in Srinagar’s Bemina area.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Vijay Kumar said three militants — two Pakistanis and a local who had been in Pakistan since 2018 — had plotted an attack on the 43-day Amarnath Yatra, beginning June 30.
“Pakistan based terror handlers had sent two Pakistani LeT terrorists alongwith Adil Hussain, a resident of Pahalgam area with the directions to carry out attacks on Amarnath Yatra. However, all the three terrorists have been killed now in two separate encounters – one at Sopore (June 6) and two in a brief encounter at Bemina, Srinagar,” Kumar said. “The two killed in Bemina had recently escaped in Sopore encounter.”
He said Adil Mir had crossed over to Pakistan in 2018 on a visit VISA from Wagah.
“It (the killing of three member group) is a big success for us as they were planning to attack Amarnath Yatra. However the prompt and timely action by the police led to the elimination of both the terrorists and thereby averting the possible major threat,” he said.
The Amarnath Yatra will be conducted physically after a gap of two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is hopeful that this year’s pilgrimage will be much bigger and six to eight lakh pilgrims are expected to perform the annual yatra.
Giving details about the over night operation, police said a specific information was generated by Police regarding the movement of militants in Bemina area of Srinagar, who had earlier escaped from an encounter in Sopore.
“Srinagar Police established a special naka in Bemina. During naka checking two suspects while approaching the said naka were challenged by the Naka party, to which these suspects’ (terrorists) started indiscriminate firing upon the said party. The fire was however effectively retaliated, leading to a brief encounter. In the initial exchange of fire, five police personnel received minor injuries who were immediately evacuated to hospital for the treatment of their injuries. In the ensuing brief encounter, two terrorists were killed,” a police spokesman said.
Two AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, live rounds, Y-SMS device, Matrix sheet, Pakistani medicines and other incriminating material were recovered after the Srinagar fighting.
