5 militants killed in encounter in Shopian
14 militants killed in same district in four days
Srinagar: Security forces killed five militants in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday, taking the number of militants killed in the last four days to 14, police said.
Giving details, a police spokesman said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in village Sugoo Handhama Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in the said area.
He said that during the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party that was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, said the spokesman.
He said that the identification and affiliation of the killed militants was being ascertained.
“However, as per source reports, the militants belong to HM and LeT. One of them is Disstt Comdr of HM,” said he, adding, Police and SFs conducted the operation professionally and no collateral damage occurred.
This is the third major encounter in Shopian in four days. Nine Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in two gun battles with the security forces on Sunday and Monday.
Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, the spokesman said, adding, all the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.
“In this connection a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated,” said the spokesman.
