Srinagar:
Three militants including Longest surviving Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Ashraf Molvi has been killed during day long anti militants operation launched by forces in woods of Batkoot area of Pahalgam in South Kashmir.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar told News24 that Ashraf Molvi who was one of the oldest surviving millitant of Hizbul militant outfit along with two other militants have been killed. IGP said this was the successful operation on the Amarnath yatra route and termed it major success for forces months before the start of annual Amarnath pilgrimage. Officials said after two years of COVID19 this year they are expecting huge Amarnath pilgrimage and militants have already issued several threats against Yatra and since then only forces have intensified anti militants operations particularly in those areas where from Amarnath Yatra passes and today’s operation is a result of those hard efforts undertook by forces to ensure safe Amarnath Yatra.
Official sources told News24 that Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag had joined Hizb in 2013 and soon became most wanted militant in the valley. He was instrumental in recruiting locals into the oufit.
Earlier today joint team of Police, Army and CRPF had launched a Cordon and Search Operation in the area after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists and when the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight.
It’s pertained to mention here that it’s 42nd encounter of this year and security Forces have managed to kill 65 militants this year till now including 15 Pakistani militants.
IGP Kashmir said out of 64 killed militants 39 were of LeT, 15 militants of JeM and Hizb 8 and Al-Badar 2. Beside 31 militants were arrested alive, and 171 terror associates were also apprehended.
Meanwhile The big achievement security forces claim is that they said have controlled the fresh recruitment of youth in terror outfits and they also claim that they have managed to bring back at least 230 youth who were to join or have joined the terror ranks.
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