Srinagar, August 29 :Three militants and army soldier were killed in an encounter between militants and government forces in Zadoora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday.
Official sources said that three militants were killed, whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
Official sources further said that one Army trooper received bullet wound, who was subsequently shifted to 92 Base hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Earlier, a joint team of Police, Army’s 50RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Zadoora.
As the joint team encircled the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter.
Police version
Police on Saturday in a statement said that three Hizb militants and one army soldier was killed in Zadoora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama.
In a statement issued to media, police said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in village Zadoora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 182/183BN CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
The statement further stated that, In the ensuing encounter, 03 militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir all residents of Pulwama and affiliated with outfit HM.
During the said encounter, one Army man also received critical injuries who was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
The police said the slain militants had a long history of militancy crime records. They were part of groups involved in planning and executing several militant attacks in the area including attacks on Police and security establishments.
As per police records, Adil Hafiz was involved in case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to attack on naka party at Prichoo Bridge in which one police personnel was killed and another was injured.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities, police said.
The nearest family members of the killed militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla, it added.
“Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other militancy crimes,” the police said.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama and investigation has been initiated, the police said
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, reads the statement.