Militant, CRPF man killed in Malbagh encounter
Police say slain militant was involved in June 26 Bijbehara attack which killed CRPF man and 6-year-old boy
Srinagar: An Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) militant and a CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces at Malabagh area on the outskirts of Srinagar late last evening.
Reports said the encounter raged after joint team of police, army and CRPF launched search operation in the area following inputs about the presence of militants. Officials said the militants fired upon the government forces after they zeroed in on the suspected spot.
Heavy firing was going on from both sides for over an hour which left a militant killed and a CRPF personal critically injured, who was later shifted to Army’s 92 base hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The slain CRPF man was identified as HC/GD Kuldeep Oran of 118 Battalion CRPF.
Slain militant was identified as Zahid Daas, who police said was affiliated with ISJK militant outfit from Anantnag in south Kashmir.
He was behind the attack on a CRPF party at Bijbehara in south Kashmir on June 26, police said.
“#Killer of JKP & CRPF personnel at #Bijbehara #Anantnag and one 6 years old boy, #terrorist Zahid Daas killed in yesterday’s #encounter at #Srinagar. Big success for JKP & CRPF,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in a Tweet on the Kashmir Police Zone’s Twitter handle.
Pertinently, the CRPF man and the six-year-old boy were killed when militants attacked a road opening party of 90 Batallion CRPF near Padshahi Bagh bridge in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag.
Militants according to reports had taken shelter in a residential house while there were also rumors that they were hiding in a private school. School administration, however, in a tweet later clarified that school building is safe and also extended gratitude to the people for their concern.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range, K Vijay Kumar also confirmed that a militant and a CRPF man were killed in the encounter at Malabagh area.
As soon as the firing stopped, joint team of government forces launched door-to-door search to ascertain whether there is any other militant hiding in the area.
This was the third encounter in Srinagar since May this year. A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and son of a senior separatist leader were among the two militants killed in an encounter at Nawakadal area in Srinagar on May 19 this year.
Three local militants were also killed by security forces in Zadibal area of Srinagar, the second in just over a month in the city on June 21 last month.
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