12 terrorists were gunned down in counter-insurgency operations in three different areas in South Kashmir during which three Army jawans and two civilians were killed as well.
Police and CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid stated that this is one of the biggest counter-offensives in recent times against terror groups operating in the Kashmir Valley.
Vaid tweeted, “Encounter concluded. One more terrorist body recovered from Shopian encounter site. In all 12 terrorists neutralized (one more being ascertained), three soldiers martyred and one terrorist caught alive. It’s unfortunate that stone pelting around encounter site cost four civilian deaths.”
Corps Commander of XV Corps, Lt Gen A K Bhatt also termed it as one of the biggest operations in recent times and said the death of Lt Umar Fayaz, who was killed in Shopian last year, had been avenged.
He said, “Among the militants killed are Ishfaq Malik and Rayees Thokar. They were responsible for his death.”
The DGP also made a special mention of an SSP's efforts to convince a terrorist to surrender during the Dialgam encounter. He stated, “I would like to make a special mention about the Dialgam encounter where our Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) made a special effort, which is unheard of in any part of the world. He called the family members of one of the terrorists. They spoke with him for 30 minutes, to convince him to surrender.
Unfortunately, he did not heed the advice of his family. During the talks, the district SSP tried to get him over. Instead he fired on the police leaving them with no option other than to retaliate. He was killed. The other one was caught alive.”
