Conflict

Poonch: Body of LeT militant retrieved from military operation site

[FPK File Photo/Vikar Syed]

Srinagar: Body of a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, who according to officials sustained injuries, alongside two policemen and an armed forces personnel, and couldn’t be immediately retrieved, has been recovered from the Bhata-Dhurian site in Nar Khas area of Mendhar in Poonch.

Officials said that Zia Mustafa, a Pakistani LeT militant was taken to Bhata Durian for identification of a hideout during the ongoing operation in which three army men and a JCO were killed.

On Saturday, Mustafa was taken on a 10-day remand by police to Mendhar in Poonch district from Kot Balwal jail. Mustafa was arrested in 2003 by J&K Police as the mastermind of the Nadimarg massacre of Kashmiri Pandits in March that year.

“During the search when the team approached hideout, militants again opened fire on a joint team of police and army personnel in which two policemen and an army jawan sustained injuries. Mustafa also sustained injuries and he could not be immediately extracted from the site due to heavy fire,” officials said adding, “during the subsequent operation additional reinforcements were sent and the body of Zia Mustafa has been retrieved from the encounter site.”

They further said that operation is in progress along the area.

Pertinent to mention here that nine armed forces personnel including two army officers (JCOs) died in action since the encounter started almost two weeks ago.

(With inputs from GNS)

 

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