Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants behind the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in July, which left eight yatris dead, were “eliminated” in the Qazigund encounter in Kulgam on Monday, according to the police. The fourth militant was arrested from a hospital building.
“One more (militant’s) body was spotted on Tuesday from the Qazigund encounter site, taking the toll to three. The LeT militants, Yawar Bashir, a local militant, and Maviya, a Pakistani, were directly involved in the Amarnath pilgrim attack.
“Except for one militant Shakoor, who was also directly involved in the attack, all others have been either arrested or killed,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Muneer Khan.
One soldier was also killed in the daylong gunfight, while three civilians suffered injuries near the encounter site on Monday.
Mr. Khan said the Monday operation saw “highly calibrated” coordination between different security agencies. “The timely response of the troops of the Road Opening Party led to encircling of the militants. The killing of the LeT militants has weakened the group in the Valley,” said Mr. Khan.
The fourth militant, Rashid Ahmed Allai, was arrested from the Anantnag maternity hospital “with a Chinese pistol and live cartridges on Monday night,” said Mr. Khan. Allai had joined the militant ranks two days ago, according to the police.
The police also said the LeT group, headed by slain Furqan, was involved in “a series of terror crimes in Anantnag and Kulgam area”, including attacks at Lower Munda and Anantnag bus stand.
Furqan, according to the police, had replaced LeT operational chief Ismail, killed earlier this year in south Kashmir.
Security forces used tear smoke shells as locals clashed with them after the funeral prayers of Bashir, who was buried in his native village Hablish in Kulgam. The mourners, who raised anti-India slogans, draped Bashir’s body in a green flag.
The areas where clashes erupted include Nusu Badragund, Vesu and Devsar, impacting the flow of traffic.
All train services to south Kashmir were suspended “as a precautionary measure.” A spontaneous shutdown was also observed in Kulgam and Anantnag against the killings. Sources said the bodies of the foreign militants will be buried at Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
