Pulwama, Nov 18: Two militants belonging to the Al-Badar outfit were Sunday killed in an encounter with government forces in Shopian district while as one CRPF personnel was killed in a militant attack in Kakapora area of Pulwama district.
Based on a “credible input” about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces at the crack of dawn in Rebban area of Zainapora in the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.
He said as the search operation was going on, the search party was fired upon by the hiding militants.
The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter in which two militants were killed, the spokesman said.
He said the slain militants have been identified as Nawaz Ahmad Wagay, son of Ghulam Qadir, a resident of Rebban Zainapora, and Yawar Wani, son of Ali Mohammad Wani, a resident of Batnoor Litter Pulwama.
“They were affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badar. Both the killed militants were involved in a series of attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area,” the spokesman said.
Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
No collateral damage took place during the encounter, he said.
Police spokesman also appealed the people to not venture inside the encounter site since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials, if any,” spokesman said.
Yawar, 19, a Class 10th student, had joined Al-Badr militant outfit in August this year when his gun-wielding picture went viral on social media, locals said.
Nawaz, according to his family members “had completed his post-graduation in Urdu before he joined Al-Badr militant outfit.”
One of the relatives of the slain militant said “on June 01 this year, after coming back from Friday prayers, he dropped his mobile phone at home and left. We were shocked by evening on seeing the picture of Nawaz holding arms and declaring his joining Al-Badr ranks.”
His father Ghulam Qadir Waggay “was killed by Ikhwanis in 1996 in the same village” said family members.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Shopian and Pulwama districts to mourn the killing of these militants today.
Reports said that all shops and other commercial establishments remained closed in the twin districts while public transport remained off the roads.
Thousands of people also attended the funeral prayers of the two militants at their native places amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans.
As the bodies of Nawaz Ahmad Wagay and Yawar Ahmad Wani reached their native villages of Rebban, Shopian and Bhatnoora, Pulwama respectively, thousands of mourners from adjoining and far-off places converged there to participate in their last rites.
Multiple rounds of funeral prayers were held for both the slain militants.
Meanwhile, militants attacked the paramilitary CRPF personnel in Kakapora area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir Sunday, killing a constable, officials said.
The militants opened indiscriminate fire and hurled grenades on the CRPF camp at Kakapora in the district, killing Constable Chandrika Prasad of 183 D Coy, and injuring two others, they said.
CRPF personnel immediately cordoned off the area, leading to an encounter with the militants.
Further details were awaited.
In yet another incident, two army jawans were injured in exchange of fire with militants at Larev Kakapora.
A police official said that militants fired upon a naka pary that was laid at Larev Kakapora. Two army jawans received injuries and have been hospitalized. Condition of both the injured is reported to be stable, he said.
The area has been cordoned and search operation launched, said the official.
