Srinagar- The anti-terror operation in the forest area of Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir entered the third day on Monday as security forces widened the search area to flush out terrorists, officials said.
Three persons, including two soldiers, were killed in the exchange of fire with terrorists on Saturday following which a massive manhunt has been launched in the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area of Anantnag district to eliminate the ultras.
The operation to hunt down the ultras continued for the third day despite the challenging topography.
The firefight started on Saturday evening during a cordon and search operation that was initiated by the security forces based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of terrorists in the remote Ahlan Gagarmandu forest.
According to officials, a group of terrorists — believed to be three to four in number — opened fire at the joint search parties comprising Army personnel, including para commandos, and local police.
In the ensuing gun battle, six Army personnel and two civilians were injured, officials said, adding the injured soldiers were promptly taken to a nearby hospital where two succumbed shortly after arrival.
The slain army personnel have been identified as Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma.
This encounter is a grim reminder of a similar operation in the general area of Kokernag last September, during which four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and Deputy SP Humayun Bhat were killed in the week-long engagement with terrorists.
Two terrorists, including a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were also neutralised during that operation.
Security forces have ramped up their efforts in the woods of Kokernag after an encounter in Doda district on July 15 that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including a captain.
It is believed that the terrorists involved in the recent Anantnag incident may have crossed over from Kishtwar district after escaping the confrontation in Doda.
Giving details of the current operation, a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said that on August 5, it was confirmed through human and electronic means that terrorists responsible for atrocities in the Doda region in July have sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir.
Terror Module Busted In Kathua, 9 Held
Meanwhile police said in a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-terror operation, security forces detained a Kathua based “king-pin” of Over Ground Workers (OGW) network along with his eight other associates for providing logistic support and guiding the terrorists to reach upper reaches of Doda-Udhampur-Kathua districts and usher terror activities.
A police official said that collaborating human intelligence, inputs provided by central intelligence agencies and successful operation in Gandoh Doda, where three foreign terrorists were gunned down, the security forces zeroed-in on a module, wherein freshly infiltrated terrorists were found active with support of local handlers and who had successfully reached the upper reaches of Udhampur-Doda and Kathua.
“The kingpins of the module in active collusion with terrorist handlers across the border, played curial role in receiving the foreign terrorists after their illegal and surreptitious entry into India in samba-Kathua sector. The module besides providing initial shelter, food and other minor logistic was also responsible for guiding them to the upper reaches of the mountains and jungles of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda districts around Kailash Mountain which is at the centre of tri-junction of these three districts,” an official said.
The official said that members of the module admitted that three terrorists killed in the Gandoh encounter had taken their help in hiding and travelling without being detected till they reached the upper reaches.
The kingpin has been identified as Mohamed Lateef alias Haji Lateef while his eight other associates have been taken into custody as “enemy agents.”
“Mohd Lateef, resident of Ambe Naal Kathua, is the main kingpin of the entire OGW network. He acted as guide for the groups of terrorists passing through the area. He engaged and directed others in their role as guide or food provided in the area,” informed a senior official. Other eight detained persons were identified as Akther Ali resident of Ambe Naal, Saddam resident of Bhaddu Billawar, Kushal resident of Bhaddu Billawar, Noorani resident of Juthana , Rajbah, Maqbool resident of Saffain Liaquat, Kasim Din and Khamid all resident of Kathua district.
The officer further said that more than 50 persons living in temporary Dhokes in the upper reaches and mountains for the purpose of grazing of livestock has been investigated for coming in contact with the foreign terrorists for either providing food shelter, or communication help, only few did not report to the police and some have accepted money from terrorists.
“Those who have reported to the police in time are being treated as innocent,” the officer said adding, “Liability of others; however, is being exhibited including prior connections with terrorists and their handles across. Police also urged the general public to inform police about any contact with terrorists as soon as possible after the terrorists have left. Failure to report besides being a criminal offence is likely to adversely affect the person’s access to government benefits
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