Srinagar: Two terrorists militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of south Kashmir Monday, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Nowpora-Kherpora in the Trubji area of the district following information about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.
During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, “the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. However in order to evacuate the civilians trapped around the encounter site, the joint team ensured the evacuation of all civilians to safer places,” police spokesman said in a statement.
He said in the ensuing encounter, “two local terrorists of proscribed outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
Police identified them as Zubair Ahmad Mir, resident of Qaimoh Kulgam, and Idrees Ahmad Dar, resident of Kulpora Kulgam.
“As per police records, both the killed terrorists were categorized and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police, security forces and civilian atrocities including killing of PRIs,” police spokesman said.
He said Zubair Ahmad Mir was active since Aug-2021 and was “trying to revive the terror folds by recruiting and motivating the gullible youth including terrorist Idrees Ahmad to join terror folds.”
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the 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. “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,” spokesman said.
IGP Kashmir termed this operation important as the encounter site is very close to the national highway (Yatra route) and “LeT (TRF) has been issuing threats to Yatra,” police spokesman said.
