Srinagar: Two terrorists of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.
The encounter broke out in the early hours of Tuesday after security forces launched an anti-militancy operation following information about the presence of ultras in the district’s Alshipora area, they said.
“Based on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Alshipora area of district Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, Army (44RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in the area,” police spokesperson said in a statement.
He 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 of proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” police said, adding that they have been identified as Marifat Maqbool, son of Mohammad Mangloo, resident of Cheigund Keegam; and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar, son of Farooq Ahmad Wani, resident of Heff Shirmal, Shopian.
As per the police records, “both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police and security forces and civilians.”
Police also said that Jazim Farooq alias Abrar “was involved in case FIR No. 14/2023, under section 302, 307 IPC, 7/27Arms Act, 16, 18, 20 UAP Act of Police Station Litter pertaining to the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma.”
Police said Marifat Maqbool “was involved in case FIR No 202/2022 under section 20, 38 ULA(P) Act of Police Station Shopian, Case FIR No. 250/2022 under section 307 IPC, 7/27 IA Act, 16, 20, 38 ULA (P) Act.
Police also informed that “another terrorist, Aqib Bhat of Malangpora Pulwama, involved in killing of Sanjay Sharma, was already killed in Padgampora encounter in the month of February 2023.”
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, police said, adding that 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 area at the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the police spokesperson said.
