Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday afternoon identified the militants who were slain in a gunfight with government forces in Gopalpora village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district as Irfan Manzoor Bhat of Poniwah Kulgam and Zahid Ahmad Mantoo of Ferripora Shopian.

A police spokesperson said that the slain militants were affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. “They were wanted by law for their complicity in crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.”

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“As per police records Zahid was involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. Several crime cases were registered against him. He was involved in case FIR No 307/2018 pertaining to the killing of three policemen at Batgund Shopian last year. He was also involved in case FIR No 304/2018, 343/2018, 352/2018, 361/2018 pertaining to terror attacks and civilian atrocities in the area.

“Irfan had joined HM recently and was part of the group involved in the killing of Abdul Majeed Dar of Shalipora Kulgam for which case FIR No. 40/2019 was registered in police station Kulgam. Some other criminal cases were also registered against him.” 

The spokespersons said that Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and all these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation.