Four newly recruited local militants killed in Pulwama, Sopore encounters

 

Pulwama/Sopore, Jun 21: Four locals militants were killed in two separate encounters in the last 24 hours in Pulwama and Sopore, police said Tuesday.

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in a gunfight on Tuesday in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district while as two JeM militants were killed in an encounter in Tujan area of Pulwama.

A top official said that joint team of J&K police and army cordoned off Tulibal area of Sopore on specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

“As the joint team was searching for the militants, they came under fire and retaliated and in exchange of fire, two militants from South Kashmir were killed,” he said.

The slain were identified as Zahid Ahmad Chopan resident of Tengwani Shopian and Mohammad Younis Gul resident of Washbugh Pulwama who were affiliated with LeT.

Another encounter broke out on the intervening night at Tujan area of Pulwama district in which two local JeM militants were killed.

An official said that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militant fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter. “During exchange of fire, two militants were killed who have been identified as Abid Ahmad Sheikh from Barpora Pulwama and Majid Nazir from Ladoo Pampore.

He added that Majid Nazir was involved in killing of SI Farooq Ahmad from Samboora.

Meanwhile,  Police spokesperson in a statement said that on acting on specific information input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in village Tujjan, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (53RR) & CRPF (183Bn) in the area. “During the search operation, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the statement said.

The spokesman said that in the ensuing encounter, two militants of JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Abid Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Barpora Pulwama and Majid Nazir Wani, resident of Banpora Ladoo, Pampore.

“As per the police records, both the killed militants were part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, the killed militant Majid Nazir Wani was also involved in the killing of Martyr SI Farooq Ahmad,” the police spokesman said, adding, ” Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”

Similarly in Sopore, based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Tulibal area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (52RR) and CRPF in the said area, the spokesman said.

“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. In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Zahid Ahmad Chopan resident of Tengwani Shopian and Muhammad Younis Gul, a resident of Washbugh Pulwama,” the spokesman said.

As per police records, both the killed militants had joined militancy folds recently, the spokesman said, adding that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including two AK-47 rifles & four magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint teams for carrying out the anti-militant operations in professional manner without any collateral damage. He also appreciated the joint team for tracking and neutralizing the militant involved in the recent killing of police officer in Pulwama.

In the meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that 118 militants have been killed in Kashmir in current year which includes 32 foreigners. He said that last year in same period, 55 militants including two foreign militants were killed. He further added that among 118 militants killed, 77 were affiliated with LeT and 26 with JeM.

“So far 118 militants including 32 foreign militants killed in #Kashmir in current year. Last year in 2021 total 55 militants including two #foreign militants were killed in the same period. Out of 118, 77 militants are from #Pak sponsored LeT and 26 from JeM outfit,” Kashmir Police Zone tweeted while quoting IGP Kashmir.