Srinagar, Jan 29 (GNS): Three local Hib-ul-Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunfight, first this year, in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday, police said.
A police spokesperson told GNS that the encounter started at Mandoora area of Tral area after a joint team of police, 180 batalion CRPF and army’s 42RR launched a joint cordon-and-search operation following specific inputs about the presence of the militants there.
“During the search operation as the presence of (militants) got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, three (militants) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. “
They have been identified as Waris Hassan of Naibugh, Aarif Bashir of Monghama and Ahtishamul Haq of Check Noorpora area of Awantipora. “All the killed (militants) were linked with proscribed terror outfit HM.”
As per police records, the spokesperson said, the slain were part of groups involved in several militant incidents. “On 2 January this year Arif Bashir lobbed a hand grenade on security forces near Bus Stand Tral resulting in splinter injuries to one CRPF personnel and eight civilians. Waris Hassan along with others was involved in firing upon patrolling party of Awantipora Police on 5 October 2020. In this regard a case vide FIR No. 140/2021 U/S 7/25 Arms Act 13 UA(P) Act has been already registered in Police Station Awantipora. “Besides, the group was also involved in threatening posters of outfit HM to keep public away from elections and also pasting of threat posters at Dadsara area on 02/12/2020. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 182/2020 U/S 506 IPC 13 ULA (P) stands already registered at PS Awantipora.”
The spokesperson said that incriminating materials including arms and 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 (incidents).” (GNS)
