Sopore: It was closed-circuit television camera that helped Security Agencies to neutralize two local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in Sopore Thursday morning.
A grenade was lobbed by a suspected militant outside police station Sopore on Wednesday that left four cops injured.
Police sources revealed that shortly after the incident the CCTV footage was procured and the identity of the grenade thrower was established.
The house of the grenade thrower was raided in the middle of the night and during interrogation, he divulged the information about the presence of two militants present in Nathipora hamlet of the town, said a police official.
A joint operation was launched by Indias 22 Rashtriya Rifles, 92, 177 and 179 battalion of Para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police to arrest or kill the two militants.
The operation was launched before the break of dawn and as soon as troops neared the house where militants were present an encounter ensued, sources said.
During the fierce gunfight between the Government forces and the two trapped militants, two soldiers were wounded. They were shifted to army hospital. Sources said that militants threw a grenade and opened indiscriminate fire as the forces approached towards their hiding place, resulting into injuries to two army men.
Later troops blasted the house resulting in the death of the two militants identified as Aijaz Ahmad Mir of Brath Kalan and Basharat Ahmad Sheikh of Bomai Sopore.
As the news spread people rushed towards the encounter site but were prevented by police on the way. The mourners in large numbers later headed towards the twin native villages of the slain militants. Both the villages are located within a radius of 2 killometres.
Police said that to stop protests from spreading mobile phone services in the town were blocked and colleges and schools ordered shut.
Mobile internet service is already suspended across Kashmir Valley. The suspension came after the killing of Hizb militant commander Sabzar Ahmed Bhat on May 27 last month.
Meanwhile, thousands of people, including men and women, attended the last rites of these militants. Mir was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Brath Kalan village amid pro-azadi and anti-India slogans.
The funeral of Basharat was held at Bomai playground, with thousands of people joining in his last rites. Parts of Sopore remained shut to mourn the killings.
Paying rich tributes to the two slain militants Hizbul Mujahideen said in a statement that militants have been playing a key role in lifting up the spirits of pro-freedom people of Kashmir.
Hizb Operational Spokesperson, Burhanuddin told local news agency CNS over phone that Hizb Chief Syed Salahuddin while addressing a meeting said that: Our militants have been heading successfully towards the destination. We are really indebted to these daring and brave soldiers who sacrifice their lives for our bright tomorrow, he said.
(With inputs from CNS)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
