Four militants killed in south Kashmir gunfights
Srinagar/UNI: Four militants were killed in two separate gunfights in south Kashmir on Saturday, officials said.
While two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in a gunfight in Shopian district this morning, two more, including an improvised explosive device (IED) expert of radical Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), were killed in Awantipora sub-district this evening.
The first gunfight of the day broke out at the Chowgam area of Shopian in the wee hours when joint forces launched a cordon and a search operation following input regarding the presence of militants in the area.
“..During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given ample opportunities to surrender. However, they denied the surrender opportunities and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to the encounter in which two terrorists were killed,” a police statement said.
The two slain terrorists were identified as Sajad Ahmad Chak of Braripora, Shopian and Raja Basit Yaqoob of Achan Litter, Pulwama.
“As per police records both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases. Besides, the killed terrorist Sajad was also instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror folds,” the statement added.
It said incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition including two AK series rifles, four AK Magazines, and 32 rounds were recovered from their possession.
In the second encounter, two militants were killed in south Kashmir’s Awantipora sub-district. The gunfight erupted at Hardumir Tral when a joint team of forces launched a cordon and a search operation in the area.
“As the joint team cordoned the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists opened fire which was retaliated. In the ensuing encounter two terrorists were killed," a police officer said.
Inspector-General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the slain were locals and affiliated with AGuH.
"Killed #terrorists identified as Nadeem Bhat & Rasool @ Adil, an IED expert, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit AGuH. 02 AK rifles recovered. Both were involved in several #terror incidents including IED blast & grenade throwing," a police tweet quoting IGP Kashmir said.
"There have been three gunfights in south Kashmir since Friday which has left five local militants dead. A local militant of Hizbul-Mujahideen was killed in a gunfight at the Mominhall Aarwani area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district on Friday morning.
This month 17 militants have been killed in various gunfights in Kashmir.
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