Srinagar: Four militants were killed on Friday in an encounter with security forces, while another surrendered in Shopian district of south Kashmir, officials said.
The district commander of Al-Badr outfit and another militant involved in the abduction and killing of a panch from Khanmoh area of the city whose body was recovered from Shopian on Friday were among the slain militants, police said.
A police spokesman said that a cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 BN CRPF in Kiloora area of Shopian district in south Kashmir following specific information about the presence of militants.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon a search party of the forces, which retaliated.
In the ensuing exchange of fire, four militants were killed, the official said.
After retrieving the bodies of the killed militants, officials identified them as Shakoor Parray, Al Badr District commander, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar.
“During the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora,” a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said that as per police records, Shakoor Parray got engaged as SPO in year 2014 in District Police Kulgam. Meanwhile, on operational grounds he was converted as Constable in Police Department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora. Later on he was transferred from District Awantipora to District Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined terrorist outfit.
Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said one militant surrendered during the encounter.
“One terrorist (has) surrendered. Two AKs and three pistols (were) recovered (from the encounter site),” he said.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the killed militants was Shakoor Parray, the district commander of Al-Badr outfit.
“Terrorist Shakoor Parray and another terrorist Suhail Bhat who abducted and killed Khanmoh’s Panch were neutralised in Friday’s encounter,” the IGP said.
Meanwhile, Police on Friday recovered the body of a panch affiliated with the BJP, who was reported missing 10 days ago from Khonmoh area of the city, from Shopian district of south Kashmir, officials said.
Local residents of village Dangam in Shopian informed the police that a body seemed to be buried inside an orchard at the village, a police official said.
“The body was removed to hospital for legal formalities, including identification purposes,” the official said.
He said the deceased man was identified as Nisar Ahmad Bhat (45), a panch affiliated with the BJP, who was reported missing since August 19 by his family at Panthachowk in the city outskirts.
Police said that Bhat was kidnapped by militants and later killed in Shopian district.
Militants have stepped up attacks on BJP workers, including panchs and sarpanchs, killing at least five people affiliated with the party. A Congress sarpanch was also killed in south Kashmir.
