SRINAGAR A civilian and a militant were killed during a gunfight at Khudpora area of Shopian in south Kashmir on Saturday night said police adding that two militants managed to escape from the gunfight site.
Locals and official sources said that while body of a militant was recovered on Saturday, the corpse of the civilian identified as Shahid Manzoor Mir was recovered on Sunday morning
The locals also censured police authorities for claiming the civilian to be militant and abjuring duty of protecting common man from any harm as part of SOP.
Earlier, the encounter ensued last night after a joint team of army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation at Khudpora village.
During the course of gunfight one militant identified as Irfan Ahmad Bhat son of Ali Mohammad of Bandzoo Pulwama at present Nanihaal Gund Haadu, Memendar Shopian is claimed to have been killed by the government forces and have also claimed recovery of an AK-47 rifle.
Police Version
Police and state forces in Khudpora area of District Shopian, launched a cordon and search operation yesterday evening based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
As the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.
Meanwhile following the SOP, civilians from the nearby area were evacuated to safer places.
In the ensuing encounter, hiding militants fired on security forces. Consequently post encounter during the search two dead bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. The killed militant has been identified as Mohd Irfan Bhat of Pulwama who was associated with HM outfit since June 2017.
The other one was identified as Shahid Mir who as per the police records was part of case FIR 201/2004 under section 7/25 Arms Act of police station Shopian for militancy related incident.
A couple of militants managed to escape from the site as blood trails have been seen at the site.
Moreover, the house where the encounter took place is intact albiet a hideout was found inside the house where militants were hiding.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter for ascertaining the facts pertaining to militants hiding in the said house and other related matters to this incident.
Family, locals reject police claim, maintain Shahid was civilian
Locals on Sunday rejected police claims regarding civilian Shahid Manzoor Mir, one of the two persons killed during an encounter in Khudpora, Gagran area of south Kashmirs Shopian district.
The police statement is baseless as Shahid was civilian and police are deliberately trying to implicate him in a non-existent case. Where was the police in last 14-years and why is it that when the civilian was killed that reference has been made to the case which according to police registered 14-years ago, said the family and the locals and rejected the police reference.
The family said that he was working as a contractor dealing with shattering of houses and other buildings. The slain civilian is survived by a wife and one-year-old child besides aged parents.
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