By: Firdous Qadri
Srinagar: Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar on Friday said that attack on BJP leader’s house was carried jointly by militants from Al-Badr and Lashker-e-Toiba and those belonging to latter were killed in a gunfight at Kakapora Pulwama in less than 24 hours.
Addressing a presser here, the IGP Kashmir also said that three more persons have been arrested and the vehicle used in the attack belonged to one in whose house the encounter took place at Ghatmohalla area of the Kakapora in the south Kashmir district
“As you know, militants carried attack at Nowgam Srinagar on BJP leader’s house and policeman killed and a rifle snatched,” he said.
“Srinagar and Pulwama police swiftly moved and in the process arrested a person on whose disclosure two more persons were arrested and ultimately it was revealed that three militants were hiding in a house at Ghatmohalla,” he said, adding, “CASO was launched and Security forces were fired upon following they retaliated , initially 4 civilians were kept hostage which took time for conclusion of the operation.”
He said that three militants identified as Suhail Lone and Nissar Lone besides one Junaid were killed I the gunfight.
“Suhail Lone had come in Burqa,” the IGP said, adding, “ “An Ak-47 rifle, a pistol and one SLR that was snatched was recovered from the slain militant,” the IGP added.
The recovery of the SLR, he said, proves that these militants were involved in the attack.
“One new thing has emerged that it was the attack carried in unison by Al-Badr and LeT. Initially we thought all four militants were from Srinagar and were from LeT,” he said.
He said that militants had come in an Alto vehicle (JK01E-2098) which has been seized from the house of one Nawaz Dar is being booked. “The vehicle belongs to Nawaz also which helped us to track the militants immediately,” he said. He said that two other militants who were part of the attack belonged to Srinagar and remained in summer capital of J&K. “Those from Pulwama left and were killed.”
He said one lady suffered minor injuries in cross firing while two or three persons were injured in stone pelting at the gunfight site.
Asked if the BJP leaders faced more threat than others in the Kashmir, the top police officer responded in affirmative. “As far as I am came concerned, threat is for all political parties. Every person and every party has different threat and I accept that BJP leaders face more threat,” he said, adding, “. We are strengthening bunkers and other deployed. We are giving more training to policemen on guard duty so that they can neutralize militants on their own immediately.”
He said SPOs and PSO guard changes are made. We are also not deploying those from areas as they go home frequently.
Asked if the infiltration has come down, he said, “One of the militant (killed) had come recently. May be he had come through Nepal.”
To a question, he said that young people are radicalized on social media by Pakistan and don’t fear. “They are not aware about their family and career,” he said, adding, “I request teachers to play a role. Parents have role and also media men.”
He said that six militants are active in Srinagar city and “they will soon be neutralized, arrested or brought back.” (GNS)
