Srinagar: Two local militants were killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday at South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.
Sources said that after specific information about the presence of militants in Gopalpora village of Kulgam district, a search operation was launched by a joint team of Kulgam Police, 09 RR, 62 RR and 18 Bn CRPF.
They said that the two militants who were trapped in the village fired upon the forces thereby resulted in a gunfight in the village.
“Two militants were killed in this encounter. The slain militants were identified as Aaqib Ahmad Itoo son of Abdul Hamid Itoo resident of Gopalpora and Suhail Ahmad Rather son of Mohammad Arif Rather resident of Tantraypora Yaripora,” police spokesman said, adding that the militants belonged to Hizb-ul-Muajhideen.
The spokesman further said that the one INSAS rifle, one AK rifle and two magazines were recovered from the encounter site.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of slain Hizb militant, Aaqib Itoo at his ancestral Gopalpora village of Kulgam district.
The slain youth was laid to rest amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans.
Similar, people in large number also attended the funeral prayers of Suhail, another slain militant.
Reports said that the militants also reached in the funeral prayers of Suhail and offered gun salute to him.
Meanwhile the police spokesman in a statement issued to KNS said, “Both the militants were involved in unlawful and anti national activities.”
Police said that Aaqib was involved in the attack on cash van of J&K Bank at Pombai in which five policemen were martyred and two civilians lost their lives. “He was also involved in attack on a policeman at Yaripora in which the said policeman achieved martyrdom. Aaqib was involved in many cases including bank robbery at J&K Bank branch Kader and weapon snatching from Adijan minority guard,” the statement added.
“Suhail was involved in instigating people and firing indiscriminately upon security personnel from mob,” Police said, adding that a number of FIR’s were already lodged against these militants in different Police Stations. (KNS)
