SRINAGAR, April 1 - Terror groups in the Kashmir Valley suffered a major setback as 11 terrorists were gunned down in counter-insurgency operations in three different areas in South Kashmir in which three Army jawans and two civilians were also killed.
At a hurriedly called joint press conference of Army, police and CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police chief SP Vaid said this is one of the biggest counter-offensives in recent times against terror groups operating in the Valley.
The operations by security forces rendered a severe dent to militant groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Taiba, officials said here.
Three Army jawans have lost their lives in the operations at Kachdooru in Shopian, officials said, adding three bodies of militants have been recovered from the debris so far.
The operation has been called off at Kachdooru and the security personnel were search the debris tomorrow again, the officials said.
Earlier, at a press conference called at Victor Force headquarters at Awantipura, around 33 km from here, Corps Commander of XV Corps, Lt Gen A K Bhatt termed it one of the biggest operations in recent times and said the death of Lt Umar Fayaz, who was brutally killed in Shopian last year, had been avenged. �Among the militants killed are Ishfaq Malik and Rayees Thokar. They were responsible for his death,� Bhatt said.
Fayaz, 22, was killed by militants in May last year. His body was found with bullet wounds in the Hermain area of Shopian district in south Kashmir.
The DGP also made a special mention of an SSP�s efforts to convince a militant to surrender during the Dialgam encounter. � PTI
