Srinagar, Jun 30: After claiming yesterday that three militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama, police on Saturday clarified that the body of only one LeT militant was recovered from the site of encounter while other two believed to have been killed in the operation apparently managed to escape.
The police spokesman said the slain LeT militant has been identified as Sajad Ahmad Shah, a resident of Gund in Chogul area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
“He was involved in a number of attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” he said.
A rifle and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site in Thamuna village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The government forces yesterday launched the operation in the village after receiving information about the presence of three militants in a house there. As the encounter was on, the Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid was quick to claim that three militants were killed.
“All three terrorists eliminated. Good job boys,” Vaid had tweeted.
However, after the operation was called off today, the police official said only one body was recovered from the site of encounter. He said the initial information had suggested the presence of three militants in the house in the village.
“Pursuing credible leads regarding the presence of terrorists in Thamuna village of district Pulwama, a joint patrol of the security forces yesterday launched searches in the afternoon inside the village,” the police spokesman said.
He said as the search operation was progressing towards the house, the militants fired upon the joint patrol team of the government forces, thereby triggering the encounter.
“The terrorists initially took few civilians hostage inside the house who were however safely evacuated by the security forces. Initial information suggested the presence of three terrorists inside the house, but as the final search was carried out, a lone body of a terrorist was recovered,” the spokesman said today.
He said the other militants apparently managed to escape after indiscriminately firing around the encounter site.
He claimed a civilian was killed in “cross-firing” during the encounter. “In the incident, five civilians were injured in cross-firing and were evacuated to hospital for treatment, where unfortunately one succumbed to his injuries. Others are stated to be stable now,” the spokesman said.
He said a case has been registered in this connection and investigation is on.
