Pulwama, Feb 01: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district on Friday, police said.
Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Drabgam area of Pulwama following information about presence of militants in the area during the preceding night, a police official said.
He said a gun-battle ensued as the militants opened fire at the government forces.
Two militants, identified as Shahid Mushtaq Baba of Drabgam and Inayat Abdullah of Arihal, were killed in the gun-battle, the official said.
“The duo was affiliated with Jaish and Baba was wanted by the law for his complicity in several terror crimes,” he said.
“Inayat was an active supporter of activities of JeM for a long time. He had joined the outfit as an active cadre very recently,” he said.
Slain Shahid Baba was studying at Government Degree College Pulwama as a 2nd year BA student before joining jaish-e-Muhammad group in February 2018.
According to local from Drabgam village, he is from a well off family and his father was killed by unidentified gunmen 15 years back and he is survived by brother, mother and grandparents.
Another slain militant Anayat, resident of Arihal village had joined militant group on 26th of the last month, said a local from Arihal.
“Anayat was last seen in the native village before joining militant group during the funeral of militant Saqib Shafi Bhat on 26th January who was killed in an encounter at Khanmoh Pampore on the Eve of Republic day” said another local.
A complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama town and its adjacent area over the killing of slain militants and internet service were also suspended in the police district Pulwama after the encounter.
Meanwhile, thousands of people later in the day participated in the last rites of two militants.
Witnesses said that Shahid Ahmad Baba and Inayat Ahmad were laid to rest after 11 back-to-back funerals at their native villages of Drabgam and Arihal respectively.
Earlier, intense clashes erupted after the youth took to streets and pelted the forces with stones to disrupt the anti-militancy operation. The forces lobbed tear-gas shells to disperse them.
