Srinagar, July 30 (GNS): Two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit were killed in an encounter with government forces at Katoo Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army, SOG and CRPF laid a siege at Katoo area today in the afternoon.
A police spokesman said that the cordon was laid following a credible input about the presence of militates.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that during the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter, he said.
Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire, he said.
The spokesman identified the slain as Fayaz Ahmad Thokar alias Hanzulla of Tral and Shan Showkat Bhat of Kanelwan.
“The slain as per police records were affiliated with JeM outfit and were wanted by law for their complicity in series of crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” the spokesman said.
According to the police records, they were part of groups involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. Several crime cases were registered against them, he said.
“Fayaz as per the police records had a history of crime records. He was operating in the areas of Tral, Awantipora, Bijbehara and Aishmuqam where he was involved in several terror attacks and civilian atrocities. Several crime cases were registered against him including case FIR No. 105/2019 pertaining to terror attack at KP Road Anantnag in which five CRPF personnel and SHO Anantnag Arshad Khan attained martyrdom, FIR No. 17/2019 of PS Tral, FIR No. 69/2019 of P/S Tral, FIR No. 76/2019 of PS Tral. He was also involved in recruiting locals to the militant ranks,” the spokesman said.
Similarly, Shan Showkat Bhat was also involved in many attacks in the area and was wanted by law for his complicity in several crimes, the spokesman.
Meanwhile, another police officer said that after conducting all legal medico formalities, the bodies of the slain were handed over to legal heirs for last rites. (GNS)
