Srinagar, Mar 2 (KMW): Massive search operations launched in the frontier district of Kupwara woods after fresh reports about presence of militants yesterday has ended, though foot and night patrolling continued.
Meanwhile, militants killed in a fierce encounter at the woods in Dardpora Lolab of Kupwara on February 24, belonged to Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), residents of Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir(PaK).
However, separatist organisations rejected the security force claim and demanded independent investigation against these killings, which evoked massive protests and strike for four days in Kupwara.
A fresh search operation was launched in Dardpora Lolab woods at Kupwara yesterday, following information that some militants were seen in the area. However, after massive search operation, no contact would be established in the woods, though additional security forces were rushed from different directions.
Though the search operation has been stopped but there would be no question of lowering the guards, official sources said, adding that troops would continue foot and night patrolling in the area.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), police north Kashmir, J P Singh again rejected the allegations that seven militants killed in a joint operation by Rashitriya Rifles (RR) and state police on February 24 at Dardpora Lolab, were civilians. He said six of the seven militants killed in the encounter have been identified.
He said these militants belonged to LeT. Besides huge cache of arms and ammunition and quantities of war like stores, matrix sheets, eatables and two mobile phones were also recovered from the site of encounter.
He said 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 atrocities carried out by these militants during the past 5-6 months, revealed that this group was operating in the area of Hardoona Foests at Vilgam, The scientific investigations also revealed that the same group was responsible for the murder of one Head constable of J&K Police Sonauallh, who was killed by slitting his throat in the forests of Hardoona Vilagam Handwara.
