Srinagar: Security forces shot dead two local militants in an overnight gun battle in Kashmir, officials said. Police said both the slain killed at Mitrigam area of Pulwama were locals and were involved in a series of attacks on non-local labourers. The gun battle erupted Wednesday evening at Mitrigam during a cordon and a search operation in the area following an input about militant presence. The combing operation was launched at around 1500 hours. “At around 1610 hours, while the initial cordon was being established, terrorists attempting to break cordon opened heavy fire onto the security Forces during which an army soldier suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately evacuated to the nearest Medical Aid Post..,” Srinagar based defence spokesman said while giving details about the operation. “The terrorists had entered an area that comprised of a cluster of eight houses including a cowshed, with a large orchard adjoining the houses. The cordon was reinforced and tightened around this area to prevent the escape of the terrorists. Systematic evacuation of civilians from the area was undertaken in coordination with Police. The area was kept under constant surveillance using quad copters to locate the terrorists,” he added. He said at around 1930 hours , the militants were spotted and isolated inside the cowshed. “Firefight between the terrorists and own forces commenced which continued till about 2150 hours when it was found that the one terrorist had been neutralised and the other grievously injured. Intermittent firing continued through the night into the intervening morning of April 28 till around 0215 hours when it was found that the second terrorist had also been neutralised. A search of the target area resulted in the recovery of weapons and other warlike stores,” the spokesman said. Police identified the two slain as Aijaz Hafiz and Shahid Ayub, of Al-Badr outfit. “Both killed terrorists identified as local terrorists namely Aijaz Hafiz & Shahid Ayub, of Al-Badr outfit. 02 AK rifles recovered. They had been involved in series of attacks on outside labourers in Pulwama in the month of March-April 2022,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar was quoted in a police tweet. Meanwhile, J&K police have arrested three over ground workers who were allegedly involved in cross LoC smuggling and transportation of arms and ammunition in Kupwara district, Police said. The trio identified by police as Mohammad Amir of Kalas, Nisar Ahmad of Hajitra Karnah and Kafeel Ahmad a resident of Sudhpora Karnah were arrested from different areas of Karnah in frontier district. UNI MJR SY 1523
