News Analysis India

Tag: Lashkar-e-Toiba

  • Two hybrid militants arrested in Srinagar, 15 pistols recovered: Police

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Police on Monday claimed to have arrested two local hybrid militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba/TRF in Srinagar and recovered 15 pistols from their possession.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said Srinagar police arrested two local hybrid militants of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba/TRF.

    He said 15 pistols, 30 magazines, 300 rounds and one silencer were recovered from their possession. “Besides, some incriminating material was also recovered”.

    The identity of the arrested militants has not been disclosed yet. Terming it a big success for police, the IGP said further investigation is going on.

  • Jawan killed, 4 hurt in Jammu encounter; death toll in Baramula rises to 4

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, an encounter erupted between militants and security forces in the Sunjwan area of Jammu in which a jawan has been killed and four others have been injured. The death toll in the Baramulla encounter has risen to four with the killing of two more militants.

    Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Mukesh Singh said security forces launched a search operation in the Sunjawan area of Jammu yesterday evening after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

    “We had reports that militants wanted to do something.  The search party of security forces came under fire from militants in the early hours today in which a security force jawan was killed and four others injured,” he said.

    The injured security men have been evacuated to Government Medical College Jammu.

    More reinforcement has been rushed to the area to tighten the siege and prevent militants from escaping from the area.

    The ADGP said it seems that militants are hiding in a house and firing on security forces from there.

    Loud explosions were heard from the area and heavy gunfire was going on.

    The administration as a precautionary measure has closed all schools in the area while the security arrangements in other parts of Jammu have been tightened and patrolling intensified.

    Meanwhile, the encounter between militants and security forces at Malwah area of Baramulla in north Kashmir entered the second day today.

    A police official said two more militants were killed in the overnight gunfight, taking the death toll of militants killed in the encounter to four.

    Among the slain militants is top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Yousuf Kantroo, who was the longest surviving LeT militant and had been active since 2020. He had twice recycled to the militancy after the arrest.

    IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has said Kantroo was involved in the killing of several security men and civilians termed his killing a major success for security forces.

  • Three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed in Srinagar encounter

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with troops on Wednesday in Nowgam, an area on the outskirts of Srinagar.

    A police official said security men laid siege around Nowgam area yesterday evening after receiving inputs about the presence of militants there.

    He said during the search operation, militants fired on the troops and in the ensuing gunfight, which continued till this morning, three militants were killed.

    “All the slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba/TRF,” he said.

    Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) had stated that the militants involved in the killing of sarpanch Sameer Ahmad were trapped in the encounter.

    Sameer, who was a PDP sarpanch, was shot dead by militants inside his home in Khunmoh area in the outskirts of Srinagar on March 9.

  • Three terrorists of Lashkar shadow group shot dead; toll this year crosses 100

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  A day after the police gunned down the chief and the deputy chief of The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, three more terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Sopore in north Kashmir on Tuesday. Tuesday’s encounter took the number of terrorists killed this year to over 100.

    A police official said a joint contingent of police, CRPF and army laid siege to Pethseer area at Sopore in Baramulla district last evening after receiving inputs about the presence of terrorists.  

    “After plugging all possible escape routes, troops zeroed-in on the terrorists’ location and asked them to surrender. They turned down the offer and fired towards the search party. The fire was returned, triggering an encounter,” he said.

    The official, however, said due to darkness, the operation was suspended but the cordon was tightened.

    “In the wee hours, the final assault was launched on terrorists and in the ensuing gunfight, which continued till afternoon, three TRF terrorists were killed,” he said.

    Of the three slain terrorists, two hailed from Shopian in south Kashmir and one from Kupwara. Police said an AK-47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the encounter site.

    Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said with the death of the three terrorists on Tuesday, over 100 terrorists have been killed in different encounters by security forces in Kashmir in 2021 so far.

    He said anti-militancy operations would continue but reiterated his appeal to the local terrorists to shun the path of violence and return to the mainstream.  

    “Police is committed to accepting them with open arms as society needs them the most, especially their parents,” added the IGP.

  • Top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander among two terrorists gunned down in J&K’s Sopore 

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists, including a top commander of the outfit, were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in the Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said on Friday.

    A police spokesperson said the security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Warpora area of Sopore on Thursday, following specific information about the presence of ultras there.

    “During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender. However, instead of surrendering, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” he said.

    In the ensuing encounter, two “categorised terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT” were killed, and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, the official said.

    ALSO READ | Lashkar behind attack on security forces in Sopore, says Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh

    He identified them as Fayaz Ahmad War, alias Rukana, alias Umar, of Warpora, who was a top commander of the LeT, and Shaheen Ahmad Mir, alias Shaheen Molvi, of Cherpora Budgam.

    “As per police records, both the slain terrorists were part of groups involved in various terror crime cases and several terror crime cases were registered against them,” he added.

    The spokesman said War had been associated with terrorism since 2008.

    “Although he had surrendered earlier with arms and ammunition, after his release, he again worked as a terrorist associate for proscribed terror outfit HM and was detained under PSA. However, after his release in March 2020, he joined terrorist ranks of proscribed terror outfit LeT,” he said.

    Besides being part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, War was very instrumental in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments and civilian killings, and figured among the list of most-wanted terrorists in north Kashmir, the spokesperson said.

    “He was the last active terrorist who perpetrated a series of various terror crimes and violence in north Kashmir which included attack on police party at Warpora Sopore in March last year in which one police personnel and a civilian got killed and the attack on joint naka party at Ahad Baba crossing on in April last year in which three CRPF personnel got killed,” he said.

    The spokesman said War was also involved in the killing of a civilian, Danish Manzoor Naja of Eidipora Bomai, and an attack on a joint naka party at Model Town Sopore in which another civilian and a CRPF trooper were killed.

    He was involved in the killing of two municipal councillors and a policeman near SDH Sopore on June 12, and two police personnel and two civilians at Main Chowk, Sopore, the official added.

    War was also involved in a series of grenade attacks on police and security establishments, he said.

    Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles and four magazines, were recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said.

    Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulated police and security forces for conducting a successful operation in a professional manner without any collateral damage.

  • Two LeT terror associates arrested in Budgam, ammunition recovered

    By ANI
    BUDGAM: Two terror associates linked with the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) have been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police during checking at Railway Bridge, Mohanpora in Budgam.

    The police, in a press release on Wednesday, informed that they have also recovered incriminating materials and live ammunition from their possession.

    As per the release, the terror associates have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Shaksaz and Mursaleen Maqbool Bhat.

    Preliminary investigation has revealed that they were providing shelter, logistics, and other material support including transportation of arms and ammunition to the terrorists of LeT in various areas of Budgam, the release stated.

    The investigation also revealed the arrested accused have been in touch with Pakistani terror commanders through various social media platforms and were also in constant touch with LeT self-styled terror commanders in Kashmir.

    As per the release, incriminating material, including posters of LeT and live ammunition 30 rounds of AK 47, and 7 rounds of Chinese pistol were recovered from their possession.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law.

    An investigation into the matter has been initiated.

  • Three LeT militants including Pakistani commander killed in gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba including a Pakistani commander were killed in a nocturnal gunfight with security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.

    A police official said acting on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a joint contingent of police, CRPF and army launched a search operation in main town Pulwama yesterday evening.

    Three Lashkar militants including a commander killed in a gunfight with troops in Pulwama in south Kashmir, according to @JmuKmrPolice.@NewIndianXpress
    — Fayaz Wani (@iamfayazwani) July 14, 2021

    He said after plugging all the possible escape routes, security personnel zeroed in on the target area where the militants were hiding.

    ALSO READ | Security forces destroy IED planted by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam

    “After finding themselves trapped, militants opened fire on the troops. The fire was returned by security men, triggering an encounter,” the official said.

    In the ensuing gunfight, which continued till the morning today, three Lashkar militants were killed.

    IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said two of the three militants killed were locals and another was a Pakistani militant Aijaz alias Abu Huraira.

    “Aijaz was commander of the outfit,” he said.

    Today’s encounter is the 8th encounter in the Valley in the last fortnight.

    In these encounters, 21 militants and an army jawan have been killed.

  • Lashkar behind attack on security forces in Sopore, says Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was behind Saturday’s attack on security forces in Sopore in which two cops and as many civilians were killed, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said here.

    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony for the two slain police constables, Singh asserted that the perpetrators had been identified and would be brought to justice very soon.

    He said it was a Sopore police station team on COVID-19 duty that came under attack.

    Even as they mounted a retaliation, four police personnel and three civilians were injured, the DGP said.

    Constables Waseem and Showkat succumbed to injuries later, while Sub-Inspector Mukesh Kumar and SPO Danish are undergoing treatment, and their condition is stated to be stable, he said.

    Two of the three civilians injured in the attack died too, the police chief said.

    He said initial indicators have led to the identification of the outfit, and a follow-up on that is on.

    “The forces have launched an operation in the area, and we are hopeful that we will soon bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime. As per our information, LeT is involved in it, and we have almost identified the militants in the attack, but we will not share their details yet,” the DGP said.

    He said police and other security force personnel work in dangerous circumstances and sometimes such attacks take place.

    “Unfortunately, our responsibilities are such that we have to work in danger and sometimes, such incidents take place. But, our endeavour is to bring to justice all those involved in such attacks,” the police chief said.

    Asked if militancy has increased in recent days, Singh said police and other forces have good control on all areas of the Valley.

    “If you see in relative terms, then the militancy is not increasing, but decreasing. The police and other forces have good control on all areas, and operations are also being carried out.

    “However, due to COVID-19, there has been a decline in anti-militancy operations, but the forces have maintained pressure and we are launching operations so as to strengthen peace and development,” Singh added.

  • Three Lashkar militants killed in gunfight with security forces in Kashmir

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Three local militants of that Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with security forces at Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday.

    A police spokesman said a joint contingent of police, CRPF and army laid siege around Sheikhpora village in Vailoo area of Kokernag in Anantnag district in the early hours after receiving inputs about the presence of militants there.

    “After plugging off all possible escape routes, troops zeroed-in on a residential house where the  militants were hiding. They were given an opportunity to surrender. However, they turned down the offer and fired on troops,” he said.

    The spokesman said after ensuring all civilians are safe, troops retaliated and all the three holed-up militants were killed in the ensuing encounter.

    The deceased militants were identified as Ilyas Ahmad Dar alias Sameer R/o Kokernag, Ubaid Shafi alias Abdullah R/o Srinagar and Aqib Ahmad Lone alias Sahil R/o Kulgam.

    “An AK-47 rifle, two pistols and incriminating material were recovered from the site of encounter,” the police spokesman said.

    He said one of the slain militants Ubaid Shafi was part of a militant group that carried out an attack in Nowgam area of Srinagar on April 1 in which a policeman was killed.

    The spokesman said the last rites of the slain militants shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate.

    After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, police are not handing over bodies of local militants killed in gunfights with security forces and quietly buries them in graveyards in north and central Kashmir.

  • Third terror attack within a week claims cop’s life in Srinagar

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR:  In the third attack within a week, militants on Thursday attacked the residence of a BJP leader in Nowgam area in outskirts of Srinagar, killing a policeman and snatching his service weapon. 

    Blaming Lashkar-e-Toiba, the police claimed four militants launched the attack targeting BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan at Aaribagh, Nowgam in the outskirts of Srinagar. It was the second such attack on BJP activists in three days.

    Anwar, who is district general secretary of Baramulla and in charge of Kupwara, was not present in the house at the time of attack. His family members, however, were present inside.

    In the militant attack, policeman Rameez Raja sustained multiple bullet injuries and was rushed to SMHS hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

    Before fleeing from the spot, militants decamped with the service weapon of the policeman.

    Top security officials and a contingent of police and CRPF reached the spot and launched a search operation in the area. The police took over CCTVs installed at Khan’s house to analyse the footage.

    Inspector General, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the four Lashkar militants wearing a burqa knocked the door.

    “When the policeman opened the door, two militants fired at him indiscriminately and another militant came and snatched his service rifle.” 

    Two militants were identified as Shahid Khurshid and Obaid Shafi, both hailing from Srinagar, the IG said.  Of the three attacks in the Kashmir Valley, two were in Srinagar.

    On March 25, militants had attacked a CRPF vehicle at Lawaypora area in the outskirts of Srinagar, killing three paramilitary personnel and injuring another.

    Four days on, militants attacked the municipal office in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and killed two BJP councillors and a policeman.  BJP general secretary (organisation) Ashok Kaul asked the government to increase the security of the party leaders in the Valley.