Pulwama, Mar 05: Two local militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen have been killed in an overnight encounter with government forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said Tuesday.
“Police, army and CRPF launched cordon and search operation in Reshipora village of Tral area following credible inputs about the presence of militants yesterday evening,” a police official said.
The official said in the ensuing gun-battle that lasted nearly 12 hours, two local militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed.
Locals said the government forces also blasted the residential house where the militants were holed up.
The slain militants have been identified as Adfar Fayaz Parray, son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray, resident of Gulshanpora in Tral, and Irfan Ahmad Rather, son of Ghulam Hassan Rather, resident of Shariefabad in Tral, police spokesman said, adding that the bodies were handed over to their families after medico-legal formalities.
He said arms, ammunition and other “incriminating materials” were recovered from the encounter site.
He said a civilian, identified as Farooq Ahmad Malik, was also wounded after being hit by a “stray bullet” some distance from the encounter site, spokesman said. He added that Malik was undergoing treatment and his condition is stable.
Police said Adfar Fayaz Parray, 23, had joined Hizbul Mujahideen last year in July. A graduate, Parray was a C-category militant.
Irfan had joined Hizb in November 2017 before appearing for his 12th standard exams, locals said.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in Tral township, while Internet services were also suspended by authorities in the police district Awantipora.
