Shopian: Two local Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants, one among them an army deserter, were killed in a pre-dawn gunfight at Zainapora area of Shopian, police said.
A police official said that based on “credible inputs” about the presence of militants in the area, army and Special Operation Group of police laid a siege in Safanagri area of Zainapora in the predawn hours of Tuesday.
“As the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the official said.
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two militants were killed and identified them as Mohammad Idrees Sultan alias ‘Chota Abrar’ son of Mohammad Sultan of Safanagri Shopian and Amir Hussain Rather alias Abu Sobaan son o Mohammad Amin Rather of Awneera Shopian. They were affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and were involved in attacks on government forces establishments, the official added.
“Idress was a deserter from Army. No collateral damage took place during the operation,” the official added.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter.
Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone 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“`
