Director General of Police J&K Dilbagh Singh Monday said LeT Commander Sajad Haider who was operating on the lines of Hizb commander Burhan Wani to lure local boys into militancy was among those killed in Kreeri encounter.

Forces today killed three militants after soon after they killed three forces personnel at a Naka in Kreeri, Pattan

The DGP said that two other slain militants were identified as Anayatullah Mir of Pattan and Usman as another Lashkar commander from Pakistan.

TheDGP in a presser said that Sajad Haider alias Raja was one of the top most wanted commanders in J&K.

“He was like Burhan Wani and had joined militancy in the 2016 winters. Like hizb comamnder Burhan, Sajad too would lure youth into militancy. We have arrested at least 20 youth who were recruited by Sajad besides many Over Ground Workers (OGWs),” he said.

He was Flanked by the IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar duirng the presser.

DGP blamed Sajad for a number of “crimes and militancy related incidents that include killing of fruit merchants, security forces personnel, non-local labourers etc.”

“of late, Sajad had started working like slain Hizb commander Reyaz Naikoo.on his pattern he had stated releasing video messages to lure youth and to issue threats to political workers and forces. His killing is a big success for security forces,” the DGP said.

Giving details about yeh encounter, DGP said Annayatullah Mir, who had oined Lashkar in March this year was injured in the first retaliation just a few meters away from the attack spot where three security forces personnel were killed.

He identified the third militant as Usman, a Pakistani, who was also operating with Sajad in the north Kashmir.

DGP revealed the sequence of the attack and retaliation by the forces.

“Two CRPF personnel and an SPO was killed by militants. Just minutes after the attack, special operations group (SoG) of police engaged the militants and one was hit just at the bund, a few meters away from the attack site. Howver he managed to go inside the orchards.”

“In the meantime, SoG men surrounded the orchards and were joined by army and CRPF. one militant who was sitting on a tree, started firing and was first one who was gunned down,” the DGP said, ” then the injured militant was killed. During searches in the area, another militant fired and was engaged and killed.”

DGP said three militants were killed in the operation since morning.(KNS)