Srinagar: Three Local militants of TRF (The Resistance Front) outfit were killed in an encounter (military operation against militants) at Badipora area of Chadoors in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.
They have been identified as Lateef Rather alias Abdullah (Top Commander) -resident of Badipora, Chadoora area of Budgam, Saqib Mushtaq Khan and Muzaffar Ahmad Chopan, both residents of Khonmoh area of Srinagar outskirts.
The operation was based on the inputs of SoG Srinagar then carried out by 62RR Army, and 79Bn CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) after cordon and search operation in the area.
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In a statement, Police gave a detailed list of Lateef Rather and Saqib Mushtaq and said the duo was involved in several crime cases including civilian atrocities.
“Lateef Rather alias Abdullah Bhai was a recycled militant of LeT/TRF outfit as he was initially apprehended by Police in 2001 and after his release in 2013, he again joined LeT outfit and started operating as a close associate of top Pakistani LeT Commander Abu Qasim,” the police statement said.
“He executed a Fidayeen attack on 24th June, 2013 on Army Convoy leaving eight soldiers dead in Hyderpora area and killed SHO (Station Housing Officer) of Police Station, Chadoora, Shabir Ahmed in 2013,” the statement reads.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that slain Lateef was arrested by Police in 2013 and prosecuted for his involvement in several crime case.
“In November-2021 he got released from Jail and started working for LeT/TRF outfit in Srinagar City, he joined militancy in February this year as a TRF (The Resistance Front) Commander.
“This year, on the directions of across border handler Sajjad Gul, he killed civilians including killing of a Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat and an artiste Amreen Bhat in Chadoora area,” ADGP Vijay Kumar said.
Moreover, Saqib Mushtaq killed a DDC Member Sameer Ahmed Dar and fired on non-local labourers in Nowgam area.
The ADGP Kashmir appreciated the joint teams of Police/SF for carrying out the operation in professional manner without any collateral damage and termed the elimination of the Lateef as a big success.
“All militants involved in target killings have been neutralised in different encounters except LeT Basit Dar of Kulgam who would either be arrested or neutralised in the encounter at the earliest,” he added.
TRF emerged after the autonomous status of J&K was lost on 5 August 2019, but the J&K Police Have maintained that the TRF is an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
(KNO)
