Srinagar: Two militants of proscribed outfits Ansar Ghazwatul Hind and Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Tral area of Pulwama district on Wednesday, police said.
Giving details of the encounter, police spokesman in a statement said that based on a specific input generated by Ganderbal Police regarding presence of militants in Tral area of Awantipora, a raid was conducted by Awantipora Police in the said area.
“During the raid as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said.
He said “in the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was neutralized and another was holed up.”
With reinforcements of 42RR of Army and 180Bn CRPF the second militant was also neutralized, the bodies of both the slain were retrieved from the site of encounter.
He identified the slain militants as Umar Nabi Teli alias Talha, son of Ghulam Nabi Teli, resident of Ladoo Khrew, and Shafat Muzaffar Sofi alias Muavia, son of Muzaffar Ahmad Sofi, resident of Batagund Tral.
As per police records, the spokesman said both were “categorized terrorists” and linked with proscribed outfits AuGH and LeT and involved in several cases including attacks on police, security forces and civilian atrocities.
“Before shifting to Tral area, both the killed terrorists were involved in several terror crimes in Srinagar city including recent killing of Sarpanch (Sameer Ahmad) in Khanmoh. Shafat Muzaffar Sofi was also involved in grenade throwing on CRPF Camp on March 19, 2022 and case FIR No. 09/2021 of Police station regarding recovery of IED material,” he said.
“Moreover, both the killed terrorists were instrumental in motivating gullible youth to join terror folds,” the spokesman said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated, he said.
“People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the spokesman said.
