Militant leaders flee to POK as Army intensifies operation

Substantiating, sources referred to the killing of dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen (Pir Panjal regiment) commander Sher Khan along with three other foreign mercenaries in an encounter by the Army troops at Sounchal on Friday last. Pointing out that two Army jawans and a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member were also killed in the exchange of fire, sources said that the slain militants were on way to LOC in Nowshera sector and they had trekked about 35 kms on the hills from their area of operation in Thanamandi.

Similarly, a group of Pan Islamic Lashkar-e-Toiba militants headed by Shabir Chechi of Afghanistan had also trekked from lower parts of Darhal to reach Nowshera for making good their escape to POK three days ago. Their exfiltration attempt was, however, foiled by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the State Police, when latter challenged them at Badoon in Kalakote area. The militants used women and children as human shields and managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

Sources said that another dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen militants group headed by Saifullah of Pakistan was also making desperate attempts to cross over to POK. They had moved from upper areas of Darhal towards Manjakot for exfiltration, but were made to abandon their bid following an encounter with the security forces and the police en route.

The military and political commander of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for Jammu province, Raheel Kasher alias Shafiq-ur-Rehman of Pakistan, was also killed by the troops when he tried to cross over to POK through Balakote area last week. Only yesterday, three militants including a self-styled Lieutenant of the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and an area commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), were killed in a joint operation by Army troops and State Police in Nowshera area of Rajouri district.

Sources identified the slain militants as self-styled ISI Lieutenant Abu Hanif of Balakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), HM commander Umer Farooq of Toba Tek Singh (POK), and Qazi Khan of Afghanistan. The troops and the police were already on trail of these militants ever since they started moving towards the LOC in Nowshera sector from the indepth areas of Rajouri district.

Senior police officials attributed these desperate exfiltration attempts by militant leaders to the intensified vigil and stepped up operations by the security forces and the police in Rajouri and Poonch. Nearly 150 militants have been killed on the LOC and in depth areas of both the districts during the last three months only.

Besides, the excesses done by militants, especially foreign mercenaries, have also led to lot of resentment among the local people. Now, with the security forces having already destroyed most of the winter stockings of the militants, the latter are finding it hard to get food and shelter from local people in both the border districts.

About militants movement to Nowshera for exfiltration, sources said that though the area was plain, it took them less time for crossing over to POK from this sector as compared to other hilly areas in both the districts. In view of such a situation, the security forces and the police have stepped up vigil and set up nakas at various places in this area as well, they added.