Poonch-Rajouri operation enters 10th day | Economic Times

Four militants, including two top Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders, and a soldier were killed in encounter in Kashmir's Shopian and Kulgam districts on Wednesday.Forces had launched a crackdown following a tipoff on the presence of militants in Shopian. Police said the militants belonged to the Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. IGP Vijay Kumar said one of the militants killed was identified as Adil Ahmad Wani, active since July 2020, and LeT district commander in Shopian. Kumar said Wani was involved in the killing of carpenter Sagir Ahmad Ansari of UP who was shot dead on Sunday in the Litter area of Pulwama district. Kumar said the duo killed in Kulgam included Gulzar Ahmad Reshi, LeT district commander and involved in killings on October 17 in Wanpoh area. This encounter was brief and the identity of another militant is yet to be ascertained. The number of militants killed in the last two weeks is 17 now. During the Shopian operation three soldiers were injured, one of them succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of two others were stable.The operation in Poonch-Rajouri, meanwhile, entered the 10th day and fresh exchange of fire was reported from the forests. Nine soldiers including two junior commissioned officers have been killed in the operation. "Operation continues, outcomes till awaited," Jammu-based defence spokesperson told ET.Security forces had launched a massive operation across Kashmir and hundreds of youths were detained, questioned or summoned. Multiple search operations helped the police to crack networks of overground militant supporters, which helped to halt targeted attacks, police said. Police and CRPF have started frisking pedestrians. Women CRPF personnel too have been deployed on the roads for checking women walking or traveling in public or private transport.