August 20: On a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Ganapora Kralgund area of Handwara, ambush followed by joint cordon and search operation was launched by Handwara Police and 32RR in the said area.
During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, 02 terrorists were killed. The killed terrorists have been identified as Naseer-U-Din Lone @Saad Bhai (LeT Commander) of Brath Sopore and Ali Bhai @Danish of Pakistan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT.
As per police records, both the killed terrorists had a long history of terror crime records. They were involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including killings of civilians, Police and attacks on security establishments. Several terror crime cases were registered against them including killing of 3 CRPF jawans at Sopore on 18/04/2020 and 3 CRPF jawans at Handwara on 04/05/2020. Besides, they were also involved in Case FIR No. 43/2020 of PS Sopore pertaining to attack on police party at Warpora Chowk in which one police personnel and 01 civilian were killed and injuries to another police personnel, FIR No. 38/2020 of PS Bomai pertaining to the killing of one civilian namely Danish Manzoor Najar @Ishfaq of Edipora Bomai Sopore, FIR No. 168/2020 of PS Sopore pertaining to attack on joint naka party of Police/CRPF at Bismillah colony Model Town Sopore in which one CRPF personel and one civilian namely Bashir Ahmad Khan were killed and other 3 CRPF personnel were injured. They were also involved in Case FIR No. 270/2019 of PS Sopore pertaining to the grenade attack at Bus Stand Sopore in which 19 civilians got injured.
Moreover, killed terrorist Ali Bhai @Danish was instrumental in receiving various infiltrating terror groups and was also involved in recruiting local youth in terror ranks. He along with terrorist Sajjad @Haider who was killed earlier this week was involved in several terror attacks on security forces and security establishments.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes. Pertinently, AK 47 rifle snatched from CRPF jawan after attack at Vangam Handwara on 04/05/2020 was also recovered from the site of encounter.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed terrorists were buried at Machil Kupwara after completion of all medico-legal formalities.
Post successful operation, DGP J&K, Shri Dilbag Singh and IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar along with DIG NKR visited Handwara and congratulated the joint team for conducting operation without any collateral damage. Besides, they held a meeting with Police and Army officers and also briefed the media regarding the operation.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Kralgund and investigation has been initiated.
