Two Hizb militants killed in Bijbehara encounter
Locals rush to the encounter site where two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed. Photo/Muneeb Ul Islam
Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, police said.
“On a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched at Bagender Mohalla in Bijbehara area in district Anantnag by police and security forces,” a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said during searches, the militants fired upon the search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said.
One of the slain militant has been identified as Safder Amin Bhat (25), a resident of Zirpora in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, the spokesman said adding Bhat was an active militant since May 2017.
The other militant has been identified as Burhan Ahmad Ganaie alias Saifullah (25), who was pursuing Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
A resident of Anantnag district, Ganaie had joined militant ranks in June 2018.
The spokesman said that according to the police records, both the killed militants were affiliated with proscribed outfit HM. They were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
The spokesman said incriminating material like arms and ammunition — including one AK rifle and one SLR rifle — were recovered from the site of encounter.
“Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, sources said that thousands of people joined the funeral processions of the slain militants at their respective native places.
