At least two militants including Naveed Jatt, one of the longest surviving militant and a top LeT commander were killed while as three Army men were injured in a fierce gunfight between forces and militants in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Police spokesman said that a joint search operation was launched by police and forces in the predawn hours today following credible inputs about the presence of militants in Kuthpora Chattergam area.“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the hiding militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight,” police said as per KNO correspondent, adding that two militants were killed in the gunfight whose bodies were also retrieved. Among the two militants, one has been identified as Naveed Jatt alias Hanzalla who was known as commander of LeT,” police said, adding that he was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of crimes including killing of noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari, attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities.“As per his earlier disclosure, Naveed Jatt alias Hanzalla was born in Multan Pakistan. He was part of Ajmal Kasab’s group at a Madrassa in Pakistan where he had undergone arms training. As per police records, in October 2012, Naveed Jatt along with his associates had crossed over into the valley of Kashmir. He had a long history of terror crime records since 2012. He was involved in killing of an ASI in Pulwama on May 2013, series of grenade attacks on security forces and was involved in killing of CRPF personnel at Awneera Shopian in August 2013,” police said.
“Besides, he was also involved in conspiring and executing several bank robberies and terror attacks in South Kashmir including attack on Court Complex Pulwama on March 2014 in which two policemen were killed, attack on polling party in Shopian on April 2014 in which several civilians sustained injuries and one presiding officer namely Zai-ul-Haq Wani was killed, attack on police party at Bongam Shopian on June 2014 in which several civilians and policemen were injured.,” he said.Naveed was arrested by police in June 2014, however, he managed to escape from the custody in the month of February 2018 while he was being taken to SMHS hospital Srinagar for medical treatment from Central Jail Srinagar. “In a shootout that took place at the hospital two policemen were killed. He also figured as a suspect in case FIR No. 51/2018 in P/S Kothi Bagh pertaining to the assassination of Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel,” police said, adding that the case, which is under investigation, a hue and cry notice was issued against Naveed Jatt and three others on the basis of material evidence collected. “Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken for case records and probe their complicity in other cases. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter,” police said, adding that since Jatt is a Pakistani national, following the procedure competent authorities shall be approached in Govt of India for taking up the matter with Pakistan for handing over his body to them.Police said that citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” police added.Moreover, at least 30 people mostly youth sustained injuries during clashes between youth and forces near the gunfight site today. According to KNO correspondent, nearly 30 civilians were injured during clashes near an encounter site during which forces used pellets and tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth. Witnesses said that the youth took to the streets and assembled near the gunfight site and pelted forces with stones.They said that nearly 30 people were injured during the clashes who were either taken to the hospital for treatment or were treated locally.(KNO)