Srinagar: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who deserted police ranks and joined Jash-e-Mohammad two days ago were killed along with two other local affiliates of the outfit in an overnight encounter with government forces in Pulwama district, officials said on Friday.
The encounter between militants and the government forces comprising army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles and Police’s Special Operation Group besides CRPF ensued last night at Litter Lassipora area in the southern Kashmir district.
Official sources said that the two slain SPOs— Shabir Ahmad of Tujan Pulwama and Salman Ahmad Uthmula Shopian—were part of SOG and were posted at DPL Pulwama until they left along with their service rifles to join the militant ranks couple of days back. The identity of the two other slain militants have not been officially confirmed even as they are also said to be locals, one said to be Imran Yousuf Bhat of Arihal Pulwama and Ashiq Hussain Ganie of Panjran Pulwama.
