18 militants killed in 21 days; Jaish-e-Mohammed leadership eliminated: Army

Security forces have gunned down 18 terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed's second-in-command, after the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on Monday.

Indian Armys Lt General KJS Dhillon, Inspector General of Police Kashmir S P Pani (L) and CRPF Inspector General Kashmir Zulfiqar Hassan (R) address a joint press conference at Armys 15 Corps headquarters, Badami Bagh in Srinagar. PTI Photo

Security forces have gunned down 18 terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed's second-in-command post Pulwama attack, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon said.

Of the militants killed, eight were from Pakistan and 10 were locals, including two each of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

He said the mastermind of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack has been killed in an encounter in south Kashmir.

SINAGAR: Security forces have gunned down 18 terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed's second-in-command, after the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on Monday. He said the forces have succeeded in eliminating JeM's leadership in Kashmir. "We have gone very forcefully after the JeM, and we have reasonably succeeded in our aim of eliminating them at the earliest so that they are not able to carry out a Pulwama-like attack," he said. Of the 18 militants killed, 14 belonged to JeM including its "six main commanders", PTI quoted the Lt Gen as saying. "We have also eliminated JeM's second-in-command Mudasir Khan, the main conspirator in the attack on a CRPF convoy on February 14. He was active for more than a year," he said. Of the militants killed, eight were from Pakistan and 10 were locals, including two each of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, he said. "Our emphasis after the February 14 attack has been on elimination of the JeM leadership and we have been very successful in doing that in about three weeks since the attack. The leadership of the JeM has been hit very badly," he said. Dhillon said operations against foreign militants and the JeM leadership will continue "till we eliminate all of them". Asked if there were more suicide bombers active in the valley, Dhillon said: "We are aware and keeping a track of all such modus operandi. We are prepared for it and are taking corrective measures." About ceasefire violations along the LoC, the army officer said Pakistan has been targeting civilian as it cannot hit military. "Ceasefire violations have been going on in the Uri sector. However, no such incident has taken place in the recent past in other areas of the valley. Kamalkote in Uri has come under tremendous fire from the Pakistani side. Five civilians were injured yesterday. "Pakistan has not been able to hit the army (targets), so it is hitting civilians. But, the Indian Army has given a befitting reply and we have hit their military targets," he said. The Corps Commander also warned that terror launch pads were still intact across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan and that more militants were waiting to sneak in to the Valley. The Lt. Gen. said there are intelligence reports that militants were waiting in the launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate "whenever they get a chance". He, however, said "we are alert to it". (With inputs from agencies)

Published at : 11 Mar 2019 10:20 PM (IST)

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