Bodies of three LeT militants including its District Commander Junaid Matoo killed in an encounter with police and security forces in Arwani area of Bijbehara have been recovered from the encounter site, police sources said.
Acting on a specific information, police alongwith 1 RR and 90 Bn CRPF launched an operation in Makro Mohalla of Arwani Bijbehara. During the operation , militants present in the area fired upon the search parties with automatic weapons . The fire was retaliated, and an encounter started.
”When the encounter was on an unruly mob instigated by the militants started pelting stones with an intention to disturb the operation and give chance to holed up militants to escape. Some of the militants also fired from within the crowd indiscriminately on the security forces engaged in the encounter.In the cross firing some people were injured. The injured were shifted to hospital. Two civilians succumbed to their injuries”, the police statement issued here said.
The militants killed in encounter have been identified as Junaid Matto, Nasir Wani and Adil Mushtaq Mir.
According to the police sources, Junaid was the district commander and was involved in a number of attacks. He was involved in the killing of police Constable at Bogund on 15th of this month in Kulgam. He was involved in Mirbazar police party attack where police official Mehmood was killed. He was also involved in the killing of an ASI and Constable near Bus stand Anantnag last year. Many cases of such attacks were carried out by him.
Nasir Wani had joined the militancy last year and was involved in militant activities in the area.
Adil had also joined the militancy last year.
Arms and ammunition including AK rifles, magazines and grenades have been recovered from the site.
