Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Monday said that in Barzulla, Srinagar gunfight, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander from Pakistan and his local associate were killed while as this year so far 75 anti-militancy operations have been carried out in which 180 militants have been killed.
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room Srinagar, the DGP Singh said that the slain Lashkar commander has been identified as Saifullah from Pakistan, who was involved in the series of attacks on government forces including the recent attacks of Nowgam, Chadoora and Kandizaal, Pampore.
The DGP said that this year so far 75 anti-militancy operations were conducted in which 180 militants have been killed. “Today’s operation was a successful one. All the operations against militants conducted this year were clean and conducted in a professional manner,” the JK Police chief said. He said that barring one operation at Batamaloo Srinagar, in which one woman got killed in a cross fire, all operations were cleanly conducted by the forces.
Asked whether Lashkar and other militants are trying to set their foot again in Srinagar city, the DGP said that this year eight gunfights took place in the city in which 18 militants including a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander were killed. “Whenever any militant outfit tries establish its base in Srinagar, we successfully corner the militant with the help of our intelligence and other sources,” the DGP said.
On how many militants are active in Srinagar, the DGP said at present only one militant is active in the city who is involved in a couple of attacks. “We will bring him to justice very soon,” the DGP Singh said.
About how many security forces personnel were killed this year, he said police lost its 19 men and CRPF 21. “Army lost 15 army men and majority of them were killed on the LoC,” the DGP said.
Replying to a query as to how many youth were brought back after joining militancy this year, he said with the help of their parents and hardwork of police, 26 youth, who had joined militancy were reunited with their families. Asked whether police was sending the youth who shun militancy to outside JK, the DGP said no youth has been sent out of UT. On whether there was any rehabilitation policy for the youth who quit militancy, he said: “Officially there is no policy as yet. When there would be one, details will be shared.”—(KNO)
