Srinagar: The Army flew helicopters to bring in reinforcements from 17 JAK Rifles and 4 PARA besides 32 and 47 Rashtriya Rifles and also used tracking dogs to locate militants who reportedly hid themselves inside a natural cave in the hills at Vij Top, Daniwar (Rafiabad).
The Security forces forced the militants out using ‘chilli grenades’. While three of them were killed in ensuing exchange of gun fire, the fourth “panicked and begged for mercy”. He was taken alive and quickly removed to a makeshift interrogation centre away from the encounter side, officials added.
DIG Police (North Kashmir) Garib Das confirmed the captured militant is a Pakistani from Muzaffarnagar area of Baluchistan province. “He gave out his name as Sajjad Ahmed alias Abu Obaidullah and is about 22-years old,” he said and confirmed that three of his accomplices were killed in the encounter with the security forces at Vij Top, Daniwar whereas a fourth militant had died earlier at Qazinag Dhar of Uri.
“He says he is from Pakistan and is associated with the LeT. We had his code-name. We will put him to sustained interrogation,” the police officer said. Defence spokesperson Lt. Col N.N. Joshi said the efficacy of the counter-infiltration grid had resulted in the elimination of the terrorists.
