Srinagar, March 01: Six out of seven militants killed in the Dardpora Forest of Lalpora, Lolab of Kupwara district have been identified. These militants belonged to Lashker-i-Toiba. This was stated by Dy. Inspector General of Police North Kashmir at a press conference.
Addressing the press conference DIG North Kashmir Sh.J.B.Singh informed the press that on 24/02/2014, a fierce gun battle took place between a group of heavily armed militants and Army/Police Kupwara in the Dardpora Forest of Lalpora, Lolab. 07 militants were eliminated and operation continued till 25/02/2014. Besides huge cache of arms/ammunition and quantities of war like stores, matrix sheets, eatables etc, two mobile phones were also recovered from the site of encounter.
He said that the investigation of the case was carried out on scientific and technical methods. The scientific and technical investigation along with the account of eye witnesses who were victims of the attrocities carried out by these militants during past 5-6 months, revealed that this groups was operating in the area of Hardoona Foests of Vilgam, Police District Handwara and Lalab, Dardpora foresrts for quite some time. The scientific investigations also revealed that the same group was responsible for the murder of one Head constable of JKP namely Sonauallh who was killed by slitting his throat in the forests of Hardoona Vilagam Handwara. The attack on army convey on 16 November 2013 at Drugmulla was also carried out by the same group,he added.
The DIG said that dead bodies and photos of killed militants were shown to the people of area where these militants were active and they confirmed that these killed militants were of foreign origin and belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and were in this area for quite a long time.
On the basis of evidence collected, the militants have been identified as Sufian resident of PaK, Rehman resident of PAK, Qari resident of PaK, Kashif resident of PAK, Dawood resident PaK and Arqam/Irkam resident of PaK. However, one killed militant is yet to be identified, he informed.
All these militants were categorized and listed militants. The unidentified militant is also of foreign origin and had been seen with the same group.
During the post-mortem, procedure of comprehensive investigation was followed. Photography was conducted, DNA samples were collected and dead bodies were handed over to local Auqaf for burial. The Auqaf committee conducted the burial only after proper verification and ascertaining that none of them was a local.