Srinagar, Aug 7 (GNS): A newly recruited militant of Al-Badr outfit was killed in a gunfight at Mochwa Chadoora area of Budgam, police said. Another militant, who had escaped from the encounter site, was arrested in Khrew area.
A police spokesman said that acting on a specific information generated by Budgam Police about presence of militants in Mochwa area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 181BN CRPF in the area.
During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender, he said. However, instead of surrendering they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, the spokesman said. In the ensuing encounter, one militant of Al-Badre was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Shakir Bashir Dar son of Bashir Ahmad Dar resident of Goripora, Awantipora.
As per police records, the killed militant was part of groups involved in various cases.
The spokesman Shakir was earlier working as a militant associate with LeT and joined militant folds of Al-Badr recently.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-rifle with 02 Magazines, 32 rounds, 1 Chinese pistol with 02 Magazines, 16 rounds, 01 Bagpack and 01 Pouch were recovered from the site of encounter,” he said in a statement to GNS.
The spokesman said that while the operation was in progress, it was learnt that another militant had managed to escape from the encounter site and the information was shared with Awantipora Police. “Awantipora Police while developing the lead further launched a cordon and search operation in Mantaqi Colony Khrew area along with 50RR and 185BN CRPF,” he said.
During search, he said, the escaped militant was tracked down and arrested while hiding in a truck bearing registration No. JK13-2397. He has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Najar resident of Wuyan Khrew linked with LeT. The driver of the truck identified as Mohd Shafi Dar resident of Gratwani Mohalla Khrew has also been arrested. Besides the truck has also been seized, the spokesman said.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 Chinese Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine, 07 Pistol rounds, 02 AK-Magazines, 50 AK-rounds, 01 Chinese grenade, 5Kgs IED (destroyed on spot) were also recovered from the site.”
IGP Kashmir has congratulated joint teams of Police/SF for the showing the exemplary coordination in conducting successful operation in professional manner without any collateral damage and tracking down the escaped militant, the spokesman said. Besides IGP Kashmir appealed to parents of newly recruited militants to bring their children back to mainstream.(GNS)
