Srinagar: The terrorist killed in a gunfight with the security forces at Rakhama in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday refused to surrender and instead opened fire which triggered the encounter, officials said.

A joint operation was launched by the Army and police at 11.30 pm on September 30

The Army said on receiving specific intelligence from the police about the presence of a terrorist in the vicinity of village Rakhama, a joint operation was launched by the Army and police at 11.30 pm on September 30.

“The cordon was established by 2.00 am on today (October 1). One terrorist was located. Multiple appeals were made to the terrorist to surrender but he opened fire on the troops at about 5.00 am. He was finally neutralised by the security forces in the ensuing firefight,” the Army said.

As per police, the terrorist has been identified as Mujeeb Amin Lone, a resident of Redwani in Kulgam district. He had joined the terrorist ranks in early September 2021.

“He was responsible for creating terror in the locality and had been coercing innocent citizens to sympathise with anti-nationals,” the Army said.

Meanwhile, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist armed with a pistol was arrested on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.

Following specific information, a cordon and search operation was launched earlier in the day jointly by the police, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles in the orchards of Nikloora village.

“During the operation, Shamim Sofi, the LeT terrorist belonging to Nikloora village was apprehended along with a pistol and ammunition. He was associated with the LeT and had been active since July 2021,” the police said.

On the other hand, three persons were arrested in J&K’s Kulgam district on Friday and a quantity of arms and ammunition recovered from them, police said.

According to police, following specific information about the movement of anti-national elements, police, the Rashtriya Rifles, and the CRPF set up a ‘Naka’ (checkpost) at Malpora Mir Bazar crossing in Qazigund area of Kulgam.

“During checking, three persons on a motorcycle and in a car were signalled to stop.

“On seeing the search party, they tried to flee from the spot, but they were chased and apprehended,” a police officer said.

The three disclosed their identity as Obaid A Mushtaq, Aadil Jamal Bhat, and Danish Rasool Bhat of Awantipora, Pulwama, and on being searched, four grenades, four detonators, an IED, an IED wire, an Ak-47, an AK-47 magazine, a pistol, and 30 pistol rounds were recovered from their possession, police said.

The vehicles have also been seized.