Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants and a civilian were killed during an encounter between security forces and the militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday, police said.
“Based on specific input about the presence of terrorists at Shopian’s Amshipora village area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police along with the troops of 44RR and 14Bn CRPF during the night,” a police spokesperson said.
“During the operation, a cluster of houses were cordoned off and searches were started to locate the hiding terrorists,” the spokesperson said.
“While evacuating civilians trapped around the suspected spot, two terrorists hiding in a nearby house came out and resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in grievous injuries to Amshipora resident Shakeel Ahmad, son of Abdul Rahim Khan, who was immediately evacuated for medical assistance. However, Ahmad succumbed to injuries. The terrorists’ fire was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the spokesperson said.
“In the ensuing encounter, both the terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site. They have been identified as Muzamil Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Hameed Mir, resident of Chatripora, and Shariq Ayoub, son of Mohammad Ayoub Wagay, resident of Bonpora, Amshipora Shopian,” the spokesperson said.
According to police records, both were categorised and linked with the proscribed outfit LeT. “They were part of the group involved in several terror cases,” the spokesperson added.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including an AK-56 rifle, two AK magazines, a Chinese pistol, a pistol magazine and 26 AK rounds were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said, adding that the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area at the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, spokesperson said.
