Sopore/Kreeri, Oct 26: Two militants and an Army soldier were killed during an encounter between the two sides in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Friday, officials said.
Two militants have been killed in the Sopore operation, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.
The defence spokesman said a soldier was also killed in the gunbattle.
Police spokesman in a statement said government forces today launched a cordon and search operation at Pazalpora area of Dangiwacha in Sopore based on “credible input” about the presence of militants in the area.
As the search operation was going on, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter two militants were killed. The identity of the killed militants is being ascertained, police spokesman said.
He said in the initial exchange of fire, one Army soldier received serious bullet injuries and was evacuated to hospital for medical attention. However the injured soldier succumbed at the hospital. He has been identified as Lance Naik Brijesh Kumar of 22 RR.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, spokesman said, adding that police has registered a case in this regard and investigation has been initiated in the matter.
Meanwhile, two militants who were killed in an encounter with government forces in Authoora Kreeri area of Baramulla Thursday were identified today.
One of the slain militants was identified as Akeel Ahmed Sofi, son of Abdul Rashid Sofi of Khanpora Baramulla, and second one as Minhajul Mohiudin, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin resident of Brath Kalan Sopore.
Police spokesman in a statement said Akeel Sofi was involved in a grenade attack on CRPF at Sangrama Sopore on September 04, 2018, in which two CRPF personnel had sustained injuries. In this regard, a case (FIR No. 90/2018) under section 3/4 Explosive Substance Act, 307 RPC was registered. He was also involved in many other militant attacks in the area, spokesman said.
He said Minhajul Mohiudin was also involved in many militancy cases in the area. “He was involved in the killing of civilian Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sheikh, resident of Bomai Sopore on November 08, 2017. In this regard, case (FIR No. 319/2017) under section 302 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act was registered at Police Station Sopore,” police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in funeral of Akeel Ahmed Sofi, who was laid to rest in local graveyard of his native village.
Eyewitnesses said that the large of people attended the funeral amid pro-Islam, pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
SSP Baramulla Mir Imtiyaz Hussain said Sofi had joined militant ranks two months back.
Parts of Baramulla also observed shutdown to mourn the killing of two militants while authorities had closed schools and colleges in Baramulla as a “precautionary measure”.
