Srinagar: Four militants, including an IED expert, were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in south Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
While two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in Shopian district, two Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind militants were killed in Pulwama district.
Police spokesman in a statement here said that acting on specific input generated by police “regarding presence of terrorists in village Chowgam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 14Bn CRPF in the said area.”
During the search operation, “as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given ample opportunities to surrender. However, they denied the surrender opportunities and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” spokesman said.
He said in the ensuing encounter, “two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
They have been identified as Sajad Ahmad Chak, son of Bashir Ahmad Chak, resident of Braripora, Shopian, and Raja Basit Yaqoob, son of Mohammad Yaqoob Najar, resident of Achan Litter, Pulwama.
“As per police records both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases. Besides, the killed terrorist Sajad was also instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror folds,” the spokesman said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two AK series rifles, four AK magazines and 32 rounds were recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, spokesman said.
He said police have registered case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.
“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 added.
Two more militants were killed in another encounter that broke out at Hardumir in the Tral area of Pulwama district.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar identified the two as Nadeem Bhat and Rasool alias Adil.
He said Rasool was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert.
“They were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit AuGH. (Two) 02 AK rifles recovered. Both were involved in several terror incidents including IED blast & grenade throwing,” Kumar said on Twitter.
He also said that in the past 48 hours, five militants were killed in three successful operations without any collateral damage
Sharing details of this encounter, police spokesman said that based on a specific information generated by police regarding presence of militants in village Hardumir, Tral, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army in the area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given ample opportunities to surrender. However, they denied the surrender offers,” the police spokesman said, adding that in the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
The slain militants have been identified as Nadeem Nazir Bhat, son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, resident of Koil Shikargah Tral, and Rahi Rasool Bhat, alias Adil, son of Ghulam Rasool, resident of Kanipora Dadsara, spokesman said.
He said that “as per police records both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists linked with AuGH and were part of groups involved in several cases including IED blast and grenade attacks on police/SF establishments.”
