Srinagar, Oct 7: Three militants, two of them owing allegiance to Al-Badr and another to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in an overnight gunfight with a joint team of police, army and CRPF in southern Shopian district, officials said on Wednesday.
A police spokesperson said that at about 1900 hours on Tuesday, a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched by Police, army’s 44 RR and CRPF’s 178 battalion in village Sugan area of Shopian amid specific input about presence of militants.
“During the search operation, as the presence of (militants) got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender. However they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to darkness the operation was suspended and the whole area was put under strict cordon. (Militants) trapped inside made certain attempts to break the cordon and escape from the spot,” he said, adding, “In the wee hours, the operation was resumed and in the ensuing encounter three (militants) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
The slain have been identified as Sajad Ahmad Malla of Maldera Shopian who was affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Junaid Rashid Wani of Tumalhaal Pulwama and Waseem Ahmad Magray of Chakoora, both from Al-Badar, the spokesman said.
As per police records, the killed militants were part of groups involved in planning and executing several attacks on security establishments, he said.
“Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other (militant) crimes.”
He said that keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of the militants have been sent to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities.
