Top Lashkar commander Sajad alias Haider among three militants killed in Kreeri, Baramulla: DGP Dilbagh Singh

Srinagar: Director General of Police J&K Dilbagh Singh Monday said soon after the militants launched a strike at Kreeri, Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district killing three security forces personnel, the forces engaged the attackers and killed three militants that include top most Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Sajad alias Haider, who was operating on the lines of slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani to recruit local boys into militancy.Police said that two soldiers were also injured in the gunfight that raged in the orchards, of which one is stated as critical.The DGP said that two other slain militants were identified as Anayatullah Mir of Pattan and another Lashkar commander from Pakistan Usman. Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room here , the DGP said that one of the slain militants Sajad Ahmed Mir alias Haider alias Raja of Sopore, was one of the top most wanted commanders in J&K. “He was like Burhan Wani and had joined militancy in 2016 winters. Like Burhan, Sajad too would lure youth into militancy.We have arrested at least 20 youth who were recruited by Sajad besides many Over Ground Workers (OGWs),” the DGP Singh said, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). Flanked by the IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, the DGP said that Sajad was involved in a series of “crimes and militancy related incidents that include killing of fruit merchants, security forces personnel, non-local labourers etc.”He said of late, Sajad had started working like slain Hizb commander Reyaz Naikoo and would release video messages to lure youth and to issue fresh threats to political workers and forces. “His killing is a big success for security forces,” the DGP said. “He was the main architect in the killing of BJP young leader Waseem Bari, his father and brother in Bandipora on July 8 this year.”He said Sajad had taken along one of his recruits Annayatullah Mir, who joined Lashkar in March this year, to carry out the attack. “Mir was injured in the first retaliation by one of our Head Constable just a few meters away from the attack spot where three security forces personnel were killed,” DGP Singh said.
He said the third militant was identified as Usman, a Pakistani, who was also operating with Sajad in the northern belt of Kashmir. Asked about the sequence of the attack and retaliatory action by the forces, the DGP said that in the morning, militants attacked joint patrolling cum naka party of police and CRPF in which two CRPF men and a SPO were killed.“Just minutes after the attack, special operations group (SoG) of police engaged the militants and one was hit just at the bund, a few meters away from attack site. He later managed to go inside the orchards. In the meantime, SoG men surrounded the orchards and after they were joined by the army and CRPF, one militant who was sitting on a tree, started firing.First he was killed by the security forces,” the DGP said, adding that “it was after him that the injured militant was killed.” The DGP said the injured militant had left behind blood soaked rucksacks while trying to flee and with the help of sniffer dog squad, “we tracked all three militants.”Asked whether the reports that slain Lashkar commander Sajad had tied and IED with his legs, the DGP said: “He may have been carrying a few grenades in his pouch. For us, grenades are also like IEDs. We will find out what exactly it was.” The DGP said that operation was still on in the area.He said as forces kept searching the area, another militant fired and he too was engaged and later killed. “In total three militants were killed in the operation that is going on still since morning,” the DGP Singh said. On the security of sarpanchs and panchs, the DGP said that the police has already started the process of providing the security cover to the panchayat representatives. “Those who are vulnerable are being provided safe accommodation and security cover. We are addressing their concerns too,” he said as per KNO.Replying to a query on July 18 Shopian encounter, the DGP said that police is investigating it at its own level and DNA samples of all the three families claiming that the trio killed were their wards, have been taken for matching. “Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry. I think army would be better in position to say more on it,” he said. A police spokesman in a statement said that two soldiers were also injured in the encounter of which one is critical. “The operation is on,” he said—(KNO)