Four militants killed in Baramulla, Shopian

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SRINAGAR: Four militants, including a commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Baramulla and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the last 36 hours, police said today. A non-local labourer was also killed in the Shopian gun-fight.

An encounter between government forces and militants which lasted for more than 36 hours in Pandushan village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district ended today with the killing of two militants, a non local civilian and a soldier.

Officials said that a cordon was laid by joint team of forces including 34 RR, SOG and CRPF in the area on Thursday night after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

After searching for more than five hours, contact was established with militants at around 01:00 am on Thursday night and exchange for fire lasted for few minutes only. “The operation was later suspended till Friday morning,” officials said. The officials said that during initial exchange of fire, an Army man was injured who was shifted to Army hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

On Friday morning, contact was established again and exchange of fire continued for many hours and later one militant body was recovered from encounter site, the officials said adding that he was identified as Zeenat-ul-Islam Naikoo, son of Mohammad Ishaq Naikoo Memendar Shopian.

Later on while clearing rubble, another militant fired upon forces after which exchange of fire continued till Saturday morning and finally his body along with weapon was recovered on Saturday afternoon, he said. His identity was being ascertained.

Officials said that near encounter site the body of non-local labourer namely Mujeeb, a resident of Bihar with bullet marks was recovered. He said that Mujeeb was killed by militants in the initial firing.

Meanwhile, Zeenat’s body was handed over to family on Friday evening and he was laid to rest on Saturday. Eyewitnesses said that he was laid to rest after multiple funeral prayers in presence of thousands of people amid pro freedom and pro militant slogans. Meanwhile, during clashes on Friday and Saturday near encounter site, several youth received injuries, sources said.

Three houses belonging to Mohammad Yousuf Mantoo, Fayaz Ahmad Itoo and Bashir Ahmad Itoo got completely damaged during encounter, sources said. Meanwhile, in wake of gunfights, the internet services continued to remain suspended in Shopian district from last three days.

Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed and one Army soldier was also wounded after hit by bullet in an encounter between government forces and militants on Saturday early morning at Malmapanpora village of Warpora Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Officials said that two among one local militant have been killed in the gunfight outside the house in which one soldiers was also injured. They said the injured soldier has been removed to Army’s base hospital for treatment.

The officials identified the slain militants as Umar Shabaz Wani, son of Mohammad Shaban Wani of Kharpora Bandipora of JeM outfit and another one is un-identified foreign militant. Officials said incriminating materials including arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the encounter site.

Sopore police also issued a statement that reads “the local slain militant namely Umer Shahbaz Wani had joined the militant ranks on 02nd of June–2019 and since then was active within the jurisdiction of Police District Sopore with other militant operatives of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Both the slain militants were involved in a series of civilian killings and attacks on security Forces establishment.”

Regarding the incident, a case under FIR number 52/2019 under section 307/RPC, 7/27 I. Arms Act registered in Police Station Bomai and investigation taken up. Earlier, the gunfight broke out soon after the joint team of forces including army’s 22RR SOG and CRPF intensified the searches and fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot, the militants hiding inside opened fire leading to a gunfight, they said.