Once a hot bet, Litter – Tahab belt in Pulwama has only 2 out of 12 militants left

PULWAMA — In a major success to the government forces, 9 out of 12 militants have been killed while as one was arrested from Litter-Tahab belt of Pulwama district in less than eight months.

According to police sources, Litter-Tahab belt which was considered as the hot-bed of militancy in Pulwama district, has now just two militants left where 12 local militants were active earlier this year.

An official, on condition of anonymity, said that the area was concern for the police and other security agencies given the number of active militants.

“There were 12 active militants affiliated with various militant outfits. At present, only two are surviving while rest were killed and some of them arrested. The slain included top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba,” he said.

On last Sunday evening, people of this belt buried ninth local militant namely Hilal Ahmad Bhat son of Habib Ullah Bhat resident of Armulla, Lassipora. He was killed in an encounter at Bugam village of Chadoora area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Before him, eight militants from the same belt were killed in different encounters in a period of less than eight months, official sources said.

On June 07, four militants including two special police officers were killed in an encounter at Panjran Litter Pulwama. “One among the slain was Ashiq Ganaie from Panjran Litter,” the official sources said.

“On May 31, two militants including top Hizb commander Aabid Manzoor Magray resident of Nowpora Payeen and Bilal Ahmed from Armulla Lassipora were killed in an encounter in orchards of Sugan village of Shopian district. A civilian Jasim Manzoor was also killed during the encounter,” officials said.

He said that on May 18, a militant namely Muzzafar Ahmad from Tahab along with his two associates was killed in an encounter at Panzgam, Pulwama. On Nov 16, a Hizb militant namely Rafiq Ahmad from Achan Litter Pulwama who was said to be a close aide of SPO-turned-militant Adil Bashir who looted weapons from the residence of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was arrested at a village in Pulwama district.

The killing of Tawseef from Gadbug and Sajju Magray from Nowpora Litter was the major success as it has halted the new recruitment in the area. From the last one year, not a single youth from the area has picked up gun, said a senior police official, adding that efforts are on to eliminate the remaining two at an earliest.