SRINAGAR: One of Hizbul Mujahideen’s top wanted militants in South Kashmir, Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Altaf Kachroo alias Turabi, son of late Ghulam Mohammad Dar Hawoora Mishipora Kulgam, got trapped on Sunday night in an operation launched jointly by Kulgam District Police and Army at Redwani Bala, in Kulgam district.
DIG South Kashmir Nitish Kumar told STATE TIMES that the Police and Army launched the joint operation late on Sunday evening on a specific information. According to the tip off, Altaf Kachroo was present at his hideout. DIG said that Kachroo, an ‘A’ category militant opened fire from his hideout that triggered off encounter, twice from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm.
Residents gathered and resorted to intense stone pelting on the Police and Army. Forces retaliated with baton charge and tearsmoke. “We are dealing with the situation”, DIG said. He asserted that Police and forces were maintaining the cordon and they would not withdraw the operation under any circumstances. Later on Sunday night, officials involved in the gunbattle at Redwani Bala spoke to STATE TIMES and claimed that in fact two militants of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba had got trapped. They identified the duo as Javed Ahmad Bhat, resident of Reddwani Bala and Idrees Nengroo, resident of Badru Yaripora.