Srinagar, July 11, KNT: In the first seven months of this year, joint forces have neutralized 24 militants including 13 local militants from Valley. Out of 24 militants killed till date, 3 were infiltrators and 8 slain militants could not be identified.
These militants were killed in 12 encounters. Southern Kulgam district witnessed three gunfights, followed by Sopore and Pulwama 2 each and Bandipora witnessed a sole encounter.
Last year, 73 militants including 52 infiltrators had been killed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The data available with the news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that joint forces this year managed to neutralize two top local militant commanders. In the Payen Redwani area of Kulgam, LeT commander Basit Ahmed Dar and a non-local militant were killed in a gunfight. In another gunfight, a local militant commander Umar Khan was killed in Aragam Bandipora encounter on the day of Eid-ul-Adha.
Danish Aijaz Sheikh – a militant from Kashmir capital Srinagar was killed in Frasipora village of Pulwama. A LeT militant Bilal Rasool Bhat from Chek Cholan village of Shopian was killed in Chotigam Shopian encounter.
Two infiltrators were killed in Sabura Nalla area of Uri Sector along LoC in Baramulla district.
In an encounter in the Nowpora Sopore area of Baramulla district two militants including a local Saifullah and another unidentified militant were killed.
Two militants from Kakapora Pulwama Riyaz Ahmad Dar and Rayees Ahmad were killed in Nehama Pulwama encounter.
Two militants were killed in Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar Kathua.
Two militants were killed in Hadipora Sopore. Three militants were killed in Bajad forest area of Gandoh Doda. Six militants were killed in twin encounters in Kulgam district recently. [KNT]
