J&K: Four militants killed in ongoing Baramulla encounter

While the identities of three are yet to be established, IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said the killed militants included Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) Yousuf Kantroo, who was among the top 10 most-wanted militants.

Acting on specific information by the Budgam police, a special police team, along with the Army (62 RR), launched a joint cordon and search operation in Malwah area of Baramulla. “As the joint party reached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately at them in which four soldiers, including one officer, received minor injuries. The fire was effectively retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the J&K police said in a statement.

The police have termed Yousuf Kantroo as “one of the longest-surviving militants”. He had joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen as an “over ground worker” and was arrested in 2005. “Released in 2008, he joined militant ranks in 2017 and started killing innocent civilians, policemen and political workers. Later, he switched to LeT,” the police said.

He has also been accused of being involved in the killings of SPO Mohammad Ishfaq Dar and his brother Umer Ahmad Dar, a resident in Budgam, in March; BDC Chairman Sardar Bhupinder Singh in September 2020 at Khag; and an NC block president in Srinagar among others.

“Besides, he was involved in recruiting innocent youth for terror organisations,” the police said. Three militants were believed to be inside the security forces’ cordon as of Thursday night. On Friday mooring, two more were reported to be killed, taking the toll up to four.