Srinagar, Sep 17 (GNS): Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants and a woman while a Deputy Commandant of paramilitary CRPF was injured during a gunfight in Batamaloo area of this central Kashmir district on Thursday.
“On a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Batamaloo area of Srinagar, a joint cordon-and-search-operation was launched by Police and CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said.
“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,” he said in a statement issued to GNS, adding, “Unfortunately in the initial indiscriminate firing by the (militants), Dy. Commandant CRPF Rahul Mathur and a woman identified as Kounsar Jan got seriously injured.
“The injured woman succumbed to her injuries on the spot while as the injured CRPF Officer was shifted to hospital for treatment of his injuries.”
Meanwhile, he said, in the ensuing encounter, three militants identified as Zakir Ahmad Paul son of Nisar Ahmad of Aloora Imam Sahib Shopian, Ubair Mushtaq Bhat son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat of Badragund Kulgam and Adil Hussain Bhat son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Batapora Chersoo Awantipora were killed.
The slain trio was affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. “They were involved in several attacks in Srinagar City and South Kashmir.”
The police did not return body to the families of the trio and instead, as has been the cases after the pandemic, they were buried in Baramulla.
“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 bodies of the killed militants (were) sent to Baramulla for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities.”
Meanwhile, reports said that after the joint team of police and CRPF was leaving the area, there were protests as youth hit the streets and pelted stones at them. the joint team burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators who were raising slogans. Later, situation was brought under control.
Meanwhile, National Conference condemned the killing of the woman, saying such incidents doesn’t augur well for the furtherance of everlasting peace in the region.
Party Spokesperson while condemning the incident said the killings like these will not help the situation improve. “Such incidents belie the claims of the government on zero tolerance towards human rights violence. The dignity of human life should be respected and protected at any cost,” the spokesman said, adding, “The incident should not be allowed to pass by without asserting the circumstances leading to the killing. We strongly condemn the incident in unequivocal terms and demand a thorough probe into the incident. We also express our solidarity with the grief stricken family in their hour of grief.” (GNS)
