Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.
The encounter started earlier in the day when a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam Police, Army (1RR) and CRPF in the Kujjar area of Kulgam, police spokesperson said in a statement.
It said during the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, “the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists linked with proscribed terrorist outfit HM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Basit Amin Bhat of Frisal and Saqib Ahmad Lone of Hawoora, Kulgam,” police said.
It said as per police records both the killed terrorists were involved in several terror crime cases. “Basit was involved in case FIR No 93/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 95/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 35/2021 under section 18, 20, 38 UA(P) Act and Case FIR No 55/2021 under section 302 IPC, 7/27 A. Act 13, 16, 18, 38, 39 UA(P) of Police Station Yaripora, while Saqib Lone was involved in Case FIR No 41/2021 under section 13, 20, 38 UA (P) Act of Police Station Qaimoh,” police statement said.
It said incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two AK series rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
It said ADGP Kashmir congratulated the joint team of police and security forces for conducting the operation without any collateral damage and termed the operation a big success.
“Cordon and search operation will continue in the area,” police said, adding a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the operation in the area concludes and completely sanitized & cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, police said.
