SRINAGAR: Two militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces at Kreeri area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district were affiliated with the Jaish-i-Muhammad outfit, an official said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that Police along with Army have neutralized three foreign militants of the proscribed outfit JeM in Kreeri area of Baramulla. One police personnel also killed during the gunfight.
The spokesman said that acting on information, regarding the movement of militants in Kreeri area of Baramulla, joint special checkpoints were established at many places including near Shrakwara-Najibhat Crossing in Kreeri area by Police and Army (52RR).
He said that as the joint party was noticed by a group of militants travelling in a Silver Color Santro Car, they started firing indiscriminately upon the joint party which was retaliated effectively leading to a chance encounter.
“In the fierce gunfight, 03 foreign militants were killed and a police personnel Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh received critical gunshot injuries. The injured was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” he added.
“The bodies of all the killed militants linked with proscribed outfit JeM were retrieved from the site and they have been identified as Ali Bhai, Hanief Bhai and Shah Wali all the residents of Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that, the said group of militants was active in Pattan-Kreeri axis and were being tracked,” said the spokesman.
“Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition and IEDs including 03 AK-47 Rifles, 15 AK-47 Magazines, 344 AK-rounds, 05 Chinese grenades, 03 IEDs have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. In this regard, Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any,” he said.
Further searches are on for a suspect who possibly escaped from the site, he added.
“Talking to media persons at wreath laying ceremony at District Police Line Baramulla, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar termed the elimination of 03 foreign militants as a big success and congratulated the joint forces for their relentless work and great synergy/coordination on ground that led to elimination of 22 foreign militants during this year across the valley,”. While paying rich tributes to the martyr Mudasir Ahmad for his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, he said that the said group were on their way to Srinagar for attacks and Mudasir’s sacrifices won’t go in vain,” said the spokesman.
“He also said that the elimination of foreign militants is our top priority as they are responsible for luring the gullible youth to join folds. Referring to the yesterday’s incident at Soura, IGP Kashmir said that the two local terrorists of proscribed militant outfit LeT (TRF) were involved in the incident and have been identified as Adil resident of Ganderbal and a newly recruited terrorist Aquib of Chadoora Budgam,” he said.
