Burhan Wani's Successor Sabzar Bhat Among 8 Terrorists Killed In Jammu And Kashmir

Srinagar: Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who succeeded Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, was among eight terrorists who have been killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir today. While two of the terrorists killed were holed up in a building in Pulwama district's Tral area, six others were killed by the Indian Army as it successfully foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control or LoC in Rampur sector in Baramulla district.

Several areas in the state have been shut down to prevent clashes following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sabzar Bhat.

The counter-terror operation in Pulwama district's Tral area, where Sabzar Bhat was killed, is still being carried out as one of the three terrorists holed up is in hiding. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are trying to smoke out the third terrorist who is reportedly trapped in the hideout. The operation was carried out after terrorists attacked an army patrol at Saimu village yesterday evening. A joint operation was immediately launched by the army, police and CRPF. There was a heavy exchange of fire this morning after the terrorists changed their hideout because the house they were originally hiding in was set on fire by the security forces.

The second operation - in Rampur sector - where six terrorists were killed, was carried out after the alert soldiers noticed suspicious movement along the LoC in the early hours of the morning. "The infiltration attempt has been stopped successfully," an army official confirmed.

The area has been cordoned off and is being sanitised by the army to ensure that there are no other terrorists in hiding. "Six terrorists were eliminated after an exchange of fire between them and the army. A search operation is being carried out," the official confirmed.

Rampur sector is adjoining the Uri sector where the Indian Army on Friday foiled an attack by Pakistan's Border Action Team or BAT. The two Pakistani intruders, suspected to be members of a Pak Army Border Action Team (BAT), had been eliminated by the Indian Army near a post in the Uri sector of Kashmir located at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. The intruders had crossed the Line of Control and were very close to an Indian Army post located 600 metres from the LoC.

Army officers told NDTV that they are fairly certain the intruders at Uri were part of a Border Action Team looking to mutilate Indian soldiers, or target patrols or posts located along the Line of Control. An AK-47 and a pistol were recovered but, significantly, neither of the intruders was carrying a rucksack, a clear indicator that they had been deployed to attack the Indian Army before escaping back to Pakistan.

On May 1, Pakistani BAT teams had beheaded two Indian soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector near the Line of Control. BAT teams are said to be composed of highly-trained Pakistani Special Services Group (SSG) commandos in addition to jehadi fighters.

Nearly 100 people were killed and over 12,000 were injured in clashes that broke out across Kashmir after terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces last year.

In February this year, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had warned local people who appeared to sympathise with, and support terrorists, that they would be treated as "anti-nationals" and would face harsher action.