7 terrorists neutralized in Kupwara including LeT operatives from Pakistan

Seven terrorists, including three Pakistanis, were killed in scuffles with security forces in the Valley on Monday, according to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar.

“An encounter began in Kupwara on Sunday. Two LeT terrorists from Pakistan were killed yesterday itself. Another Pakistani terrorist was gunned down early morning today. A local terrorist from Shopian, Showkat was gunned down along with him,” IGP Kashmir told ANI.

“In Pulwama, a local terrorist of LeT was gunned down. In Kulgam, a local terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed and one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist were killed. A total of seven terrorists killed so far. Three of them were Pakistanis and four were local terrorists. Encounters concluded in Kupwara and Pulwama. Search is underway in Kulgam,” added the official.

Terrorists and security personnel clashed on Sunday in Pulwama’s Chatpora region and Kulgam’s DH Pora area, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Meanwhile, following the arrest of terrorist Showket Ahmed Sheikh, Kupwara Police and the Army’s 28RR conducted a coordinated anti-terrorism operation.

Security personnel are on high alert since there have been incidences of targeted killings in Kashmir, and members of the minority population have vowed to flee in bulk if the government does not relocate them.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Jammu and Kashmir for two days, encouraged the people not to let hostile elements tear apart the social fabric and observed that the election process is expected to commence in the coming months.

Rajnath Singh also alluded to Pakistan, saying that certain elements were attempting to sow seeds of hate in the Union Territory.

He said that the recent targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir were the result of a foreign plot and that similar attempts would be stopped.

He was speaking at an event here today commemorating the 200th anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh’s ‘Rajyaabhishek ceremony.’

“I appeal to the people here that the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir should never break rising above religion, caste. There are some forces here which have always tried to break this social fabric and promoted the radicals. Recently, attempts were made again to ignite hatred in J-K,” he said.