The security forces on Wednesday killed three militants of Jaish-e-Muhammad, including an Afghan war veteran and IED expert Abdur Rehman in an encounter at Kangan village in Pulwama. Rehman alias Fauji Bhai was involved in the recent failed car bombing incident in Pulwama on May 28, said Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar in a press conference.
“The slain commander has been identified as Abdur Rehman alias Fouji Bhai or Fouji Baba, who had participated in Afghan war and was active since 2017 in Kashmir,’’ Kumar said. He said the identities of other two militants are being ascertained.
He said the police have called some locals to identify the two slain militants and their parents would be allowed to participate in the burial process if they turn out to be locals. When quizzed if the threat of IEDs made by Jaish was over with the killings, the top cop said two other Jaish militants--Waleed Bhai and Lambroo Bhai--both engineers, were also experts in the same.
“We have also identified the Jaish chief Abdullah Rashid Gazi, who operates in Khrew area of Pulwama district and is hiding in the woods," he said. He said he will be neutralised once he comes out from his hideout.
Flanked by senior Army and CRPF officers, the IGP said it is for the first time that top militant commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish have been killed. “The number of militants killed this year is 75 and majority of them were commanders."
He said that police have categorised Over Ground Workers (OVG) in A, B and C categories. “Public Safety Act will be slapped on A category OGWs, B category OGWs will be arrested and C category OGWs will go through counselling and their parents will be called and then they will be released,” he said.
