Two slain were affiliated with Al-Badr, one with Hizb, Ops over: DGP Dilbagh Singh, slain trio refused repeated surrender offers, residential house suffers partial damage, Internet snapped in district
PULWAMA: Three militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Badr outfit were killed in an overnight gunfight at Sugan village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that on October 6 evening, based on a specific input about presence of militants in village Sugan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RRand 178BN CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender however instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the official said.
A police spokesman in a statement to KNO, due to darkness the operation was suspended and the whole area was put under strict cordon. “Militants trapped inside made certain attempts to break the cordon and escape from the spot,” he said, adding that “In the wee hours, the operation was resumed and in the ensuing encounter three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
Police identified the slain militants as Sajad Ahmad Malla, resident of Maldera, Shopian who was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, while another was identified as Junaid Rashid Wani, a resident of Tumalhaal, Pulwama and Waseem Ahmad Magray, resident of Chakoora, who was affiliated with Al-Badar.
“As per police records, the slain were part of groups involved in planning & executing several terror attacks including civilian atrocities and attacks on security establishments,” the police spokesman said, adding that incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
“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 shall be sent to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed local militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites,” the police spokesman said.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, the police spokesman said. Meanwhile, eye-witnesses said that the house where militants were hiding, suffered partial damage in the encounter. The authorities had snapped mobile internet in the entire district as a precautionary measure.