Srinagar: Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Arampora area of Awantipora, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces in the area today morning.

As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight.

In the ensuing encounter, six terrorists were neutralized and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained.

Pertinently  no collateral damage took place during the encounter.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.

People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any.

it is further informed that the killed terrorists have been identified as Soliha Mohammad Akhoon son of Ghulam Mohammad Akhoon resident of Arampora Tral, Faisal resident of Amlar, Nadeem Ahmad Sofi son of Muzzafar Ahmad Sofi resident of Batagund Tral, Rasiq Mir son of Ghulam Qadir Mir resident of Mir Mohalla Dadsara Tral, Rouf and Umar both residents of Dadsara Tral.

All the six terrorists were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. This terrorist group was part of Zakir Mousa faction and was active in district Pulwama.

As per Police records, Rasiq had a long history of terror crime records since last five years. Several terror cases were registered against him including case FIR number 170/2016 under section 13, 18, 18E, 20 ULAP Act.

Soliha according to police records also had a long history of terror crimes since 2015 and was involved in several terror attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area.

Similarly Nadeem and Umar were also involved in several terror crimes. Also Rouf and Faisal were involved in planning and executing many terror attacks in the area.

Bodies of all the six terrorists after completion of medico legal formalities were handed over to their legal heirs.

Arms & ammunition including rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other terror cases.

Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials.