KO Photo By Abid Bhat
Srinagar- Two newly recruited militants were shot dead by government forces in an overnight encounter in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said Monday.
Around 5:45pm Sunday, police, army’s 55RR and the personnel of CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in Gundipora village of the district on the basis of specific input about the presence of militants, a police spokesperson said Monday.
He said when the search team started advances, the militants hiding inside the house of Nazir Ahmad Mir opened fire upon them. The joint team, he said, returned the fire setting off an encounter.
“To avoid any collateral damage due to darkness, the operation was suspended during the night hours and in the wee hours the operation was resumed,” the spokesperson said.
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two Jaish militants identified as Abid Hussain Shah of Monghama Pulwama and Saqib Azad Sofi of Amshipora Shopian were killed.
“Their bodies were retrieved alongwith the incriminating materials including 02 AK rifles from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials from the site of encounter have been taken into case records for further investigation,” he added.
As per police records, the spokesperson said both the killed militants were categorized and were part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SF and “civilian atrocities”.
Shah, he said, was involved in the killing of unarmed policeman Constable Reyaz Ahmad at his residential house at Gadoora area of Pulwama on May 13.
The spokesperson quoted IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulating the joint forces for carrying out the operation in professional manner without any collateral damage.
Kumar, he said, also appreciated the joint team for tracking & neutralizing the militants involved in the recent killing of policeman in Pulwama.
“In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the spokesperson added.
Encounter Underway In Awantipora
A separate report said an encounter broke out between militants and government forces in Rajpora area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday.
“#Encounter has started at Rajpora area of #Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police wrote on its official twitter handle.
Sticky Bombs: Alert Issued In Jammu
A day after security forces shot down a drone carrying explosives, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday asked residents of the Kathua district to inspect vehicles before turning them on.
A North Korea-made drone sent from Pakistan with a payload of seven magnetic or sticky bombs and an equal number of under-barrel launcher grenades was shot down by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Talli Hariya Chak area close to the International Border on Sunday.
“We request drivers and conductors of passenger vehicles to check their vehicles and buses thoroughly (before starting them),” a policeman announced from a vehicle-mounted with a loudspeaker in the border town of Hiranagar area.
The police informed the residents about Sunday’s incident and said, “These (magnetic and sticky bombs) are used to cause damage to vehicles. You are requested to thoroughly check vehicles, particularly before starting them in the morning,” the policeman said.
The cops also asked the people to check fuel tanks and vehicle parts made of iron for sticky or magnetic materials.
Further, they asked the residents to report any suspicious activity in the area.
According to the officials, Sunday’s drone that was shot down was the third of its kind sent from Pakistan with a payload of arms and ammunition in the Jammu sector since June 2020.
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