Jammu: A Lashkar militant was killed during a gunfight between security forces and militants on Tuesday morning in Surankote area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The slain has been identified and was found active with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit.
Defence sources here said that joint efforts of Indian Army, police and paramilitary forces continued to show positive results in Rajouri-Poonch region, due to unwavering support of locals.
“In a major success and boost to counter-militant operations, a foreign militant specially trained and brain washed to operate in Rajouri-Poonch area with an aim of orchestrating a spectacular strike, has been eliminated this morning,” sources said.
They identified him as Abu Zarara of Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit.
Sources said that this is the eighth militant killed this year in this region. “Recently, Haji Arif, a militant guide, was also killed on LoC in Rajouri sector,” they added.
They said as the militants got isolated and moved away from civilian populated area, the Army and Police, in coordination with paramilitary forces, launched clinical operation on receiving specific input from locals in Behramgala area.
“The militants attempted to get away by opening fire on security forces, but this LeT militant was killed in retaliatory fire, while his accomplice is on the run,” said the sources, adding that one AK- 47, four magazines (filled), one grenade and some Indian currency were recovered from him.
“The recovered items clearly revealed Pakistan’s complicity with this terrorist,” they said.
Sources said the Pak-trained and sponsored Foreign militant killed in the gunfight was first detected in August this year and it is probably part of Pakistan’s efforts to revive militancy in South of Pir Panjal region.
“While the militant and his accomplice have been on the run, taking shelter in deep jungles for the past few months, their need for food, clothing and communication (mobile) forced them to contact civilian population,” Defence sources said, adding that Indian Army, in joint effort with JKP, monitored this mobile communication on a near real-time basis, while the locals provided crucial information on the movement of suspects.
“This enabled the security forces to corner the militants, forcing them to get away to higher reaches of Pir Panjal ranges, despite the onset of winters,” they added. (UNI)
