In a major success for the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, six top terrorists of the Ansar ul Gazwatul Hind, the Kashmir version of Al-Qaida, were killed in a brief encounter on Saturday in the Pulwama area of South Kashmir.
Among the killed is Soliha, deputy chief of the Zakir Musa-led dreaded terror outfit.
Following information about militant presence, the security forces surrounded Arampora village. “As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired triggering the encounter in which one militant has been killed so far,” a police officer said.
According to the Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, weapons and warlike stores have been recovered from the encounter spot at Guri-Kadal.
Police confirmed that six terrorists have been killed in a brief encounter at Tral area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
A joint team of army’s 42 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation following “credible inputs” about the presence of terrorists at Arampora hamlet of Dadsara in the early morning.
In the meantime, the security forces fired some warning shots towards a militant hideout situated in an orchard along the Tral-Awantipora road. The terrorist group inside the hideout opened fire triggering off a gunfight which lasted for a brief period.
During the course of the gunfight, six terrorists of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind outfit including its Deputy Chief Soliha have been killed, police said.
The bodies of all slain terrorists along with as many weapons and other arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession. The identity of other five terrorists is being ascertained.
(With agency inputs)