Soldier, civilian injured; DGP terms encounter it a success.
Srinagar, Nov 18(GNS): An Indian Air Force (IAF) commando and six militants including nephew of Lashkar-e-Toiba operational chief Zaikur-ur-Rehman Lakhvi have been killed in a fierce firefight at Hajin area of Bandipora district in north Kashmir today while a soldier and a civilian were injured.
Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman said that a Joint team of army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon following specific inputs about presence of some militants at Chandergeer in Hajin. As such the joint team of forces intensified the combing operation, the hiding militants opened fire upon them triggering of an encounter, he said.
Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said that six militants including nephew of Lakhvi have been gunned down in the encounter. “The encounter is now finished and was a success. Total of 6 LeT militants eliminated. Weapons and ammunition recovered. One of the terrorist named Owaid is son of Zakir Rehman Maki and nephew of Zakir Rehman Lakhvi (mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks),” he said in a tweet on micro-blogging website, Twitter.
The DGP also added in another tweet that LeT commanders Zargam and Mehmood have also been killed in the operation. He said all the six militants are Pakistani nationals. The defence spokesman said that two soldiers including an IAF Garud commando suffered injuries in the encounter and were hospitalized. However, the IAF guard succumbed to injuries in the military hospital, he said, adding that the search operation in the area is still going on.
Meanwhile, reports said that a civilian namely Ashiq Hussain, son of Ghulam Muhammad received a bullet wound in his leg and was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where from he was referred to JVC hospital Srinagar for specialised treatment. During the encounter, clashes erupted in the area between locals and government forces. The internet services in Bandipora district have been suspended as a precautionary measure, an official said.
