Less than 48 hours after the brutal killing of Rajasthan truck driver in Shopian, another non-local labourer from Chhattisgarh was shot dead in cold blood by terrorists in Nehama area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday.
In another operation, first after the postpaid mobile services were resumed in Kashmir valley, the joint teams of security forces eliminated three Lashkar-e- Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists in Anantnag district during the night long operation.
According to police, "the deceased labourer, identified as Sethi Kumar Sagar, was working in a local brick kiln to earn his livelihood".
Sagar was targeted by the terrorists while he was heading towards work early Wednesday morning.
His dead body was lying in a pool of blood when a local police party arrived on the spot. Police said, the terrorists had pumped in bullets from a very close range.
Two back to back incidents of target killing of outsiders from Kashmir Valley has already triggered fresh wave of panic among the local farmers, waiting to harvest their apple crop in the orchards. Sharief Khan, a truck driver from Rajasthan was killed late Monday evening in Shopian while he was transporting apple boxes outside the State.
Responding to the security concerns of local farmers in the area, a top Army Commander of Srinagar based Chinar Corps, Lt-Gen KJS Dhillon Wednesday said all possible security will be provided to the farmers so that they can reap the harvest.
Interacting with the reporters, Lt-Gen Dhillon said, "The farmers will be allowed to sell their fruits to whomsoever they want to. I would assure security to all farmers in Kashmir, it'll be provided by the State. It is our responsibility.”
Sharing details of the night long operation, Police spokesman in Srinagar said, " a cordon and search operation was launched on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in Pazalpora area of Anantnag after receiving a specific tip off about the presence of terrorists in the area from the district police.
Police spokesman said, "as security forces tightened the cordon and approached a house, the house owner resisted saying that no one was present at their premises". Without paying any heed, the security forces carried on with their operation.
The first contact with the hiding terrorists was established in the wee hours around 2.30 am as they first opened fire at the approaching security forces, police spokesman said.
In the ensuing encounter, the entire house came down due to the gun fight, they said, adding that the bodies have been handed over to the families for their burial.
Police spokesman said, the killed terrorists have been identified as Nasir Gulzar resident of Kharpora Arwani Anantnag, Aqib Ahmad Hajam resident of Redwani Payeen Kulgam and Zahid Hussain Lone resident of Takiya Masood Shah Bijbehara.
All the killed terrorists as per police records were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT and were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
According to the police records, all of them had a history of terror crime cases and were part of groups involved in planning & executing terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities.
As per the records available with police, Nasir Gulzar was involved in case FIR No. 84/2018 of PS Achabal Anantnag pertaining to terror attack at police guard Khulchora Ranipora Achabal on 07 September 2018.
Aaqib Ahmad Hajam was also involved in planning and executing series of terror attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area. He was involved in case FIR NO. 23/2017, 16/2019, 28/2019 and 31/2019. Similarly Zahid Hussain Lone was part of terror groups responsible for terror attacks in the area.
Incriminating material including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, police spokesman said.
