Srinagar: Four militants were killed in two separate gunfights in Pulwama and Sopore on Tuesday, police said.
“Acting on specific information input generated by Police regarding presence of (militants) in Tujjan village of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army’s 53RR and CRPF’s 183 battalion in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
During the search operation, he said, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militates fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two militants of Jash-e-Mohammad were killed. They have been identified as Abid Ahmad Sheikh resident of Barpora Pulwama and Majid Nazir Wani of Banpora Ladoo Pampore.
“As per police records, both were part of group involved in several cases including attacks on security forces,” he said, adding, “Besides, Majid Nazir Wani was also involved in the killing of SI Farooq Ahmad.”
Similarly in Sopore, he said, based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Tulibal area of the north Kashmir police district, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army’s 52RR and CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of (militants) got ascertained, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, two (militants) of LeT (Lashker-e-Toiba) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.” They have been identified as Zahid Ahmad Chopan of Tengwani Shopian and Mohammad Youns Gul of Washbugh Pulwama.
“As per police records, both the killed militants had joined terror folds recently,” he said.
He said two AK-47 rifles and 04 Magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter.
“IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint teams for carrying out the operations in professional manner without any collateral damage,” the spokesperson said, adding, “He also appreciated the joint team for tracking and neutralizing the (militant) involved in the recent killing of police officer in Pulwama.”
Taking twitter, the IGP said so far 118 militants including 32 foreigners have been killed in Kashmir in current year. “Last year in 2021 total 55 (militants) including 2 foreign(ers) were killed in the same period,” he said, adding, “Out of 118, 77 militants are from Pak sponsored LeT & 26 from JeM outfit”. So far 28 militants have been killed this month alone. (GNS)