June 22: The Anantnag gunfight has ended with the killing of six persons including four militants, one civilian and a cop, while several civilians have been injured some of whom are battling for life after being hit with live bullets. Two at least have been shifted to SKIMS for specialised treatment.
Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a press statement over the gunfight in which one of the militants killed has been the chief of Islamic State Jammu Kashmir, from Srinagar.
Read the full police statement:
Pursuing credible leads about the presence of militants in Khiram area of Sirigufwara in District Anantnag, a search was launched by a joint team of Army, CRPF and Police in morning hours today in the area.
As the joint patrol made an advance towards the suspected house, militants hiding inside fired indiscriminately on the security forces due to which a policeman Ashiq Hussain and a civilian identified as Mohd Yousuf Rather, aged 53 son of Gull Mohd Rather resident of Nowshahar Khiram, got injured and succumbed to their injuries.
Consequently some more civilians also got injured and were shifted to hospital.
In the encounter, all the four militants were killed who have been identified as Dawood Ahmad Sofi, Majid Manzoor Dar, Aadil Rehman Bhat and Mohammad Ashraf Itoo,
Dawood Ahmad Sofi aged 33; son of Mohd Subhan Sofi, a resident of Zainakoot HMT Srinagar was involved in number of stone pelting cases in the area prior to joining the militant outfit.He was involved in a attack which resulted in death of ASI Ghulam Mohammad and HC Naseer Ahmad at Bagh–Ali-Mardan Khan in Zadibal and also in the killing of policeman and snatching his rifle at Tengpora Batamaloo besides other attacks.
Majid Manzoor Dar of Talangam Pulwama also remained active along with Aadil Rehman Bhat of Shettipora Bijbehara and Mohd Ashraf Itoo of Hatigam Srigufwara Anantang.
Initially Dawood was known to be affiliated with TuM outfit.This militant group was active on social media and mostly attacked the policemen on duty at different places.The social media profiling and inputs indicate that they were inspired by ISIS module.
Incriminating material & huge quantity of ammunition was also seized from the site of encounter.
Police has registered a case in this regard and has initiated investigation in the instant matter.
