Srinagar: Four terrorists, including the head of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir or ISJK – a local terror group affiliated to the global terror group ISIS – were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district today, the police has said. The gun-battle – second since the ceasefire was called off in the Valley on Sunday – has also claimed the lives of a policeman and a civilian.
In February, after a policeman was killed, state police chief SP Vaid had admitted that the global terror group indeed has a presence in the Valley. While the presence was not “substantial”, it was “indeed a worrying sign, because ISIS foothold in Kashmir will have a different meaning,”
Preliminary information indicated that the terrorists were holed up inside a house in the south Kashmir district. The owner of the house where they were hiding died in the crossfire and his wife has been injured. Internet services have been suspended in Srinagar and Anantnag, reported news agency ANI.
The encounter started this morning after security officers received intelligence input about the presence of terrorists, a police officer was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The search operation turned into a gunfight, after the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated. The Kashmir Police had tweeted:
The cordon and search operations against terrorists, which had been suspended by the Centre for a month during Ramdan, resumed after Eid.
Two days later, the government of Mehbooba Mufti collapsed as the BJP pulled out of the alliance. Under the Governor’s Rule, the Centre plans to crack down on terrorists who had expanded their operations during the ceasefire. The number of terror attacks had more than doubled over the last month. On Tuesday, three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed in Pulwama’s Tral after a cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces, police said. Kashmir Zone police had tweeted:
On Sunday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the ceasefire announced by the government during Ramzan – meant to help people observe the holy month in peace — will not be extended. The security forces, he said, were directed to resume anti-terror operations.
“It was expected that everyone will cooperate in ensuring the success of this initiative. While the Security Forces have displayed exemplary restraint during this period, the terrorists have continued with their attacks, on civilians and SFs, resulting in deaths and injuries,” he had said.
