Srinagar
Police on Saturday issued the following statement about the gunfight saying that a joint team of government forces in the intervening night launched a search operation in Chowgam area of Qazigund Kulgam based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
A police spokesman in a statement said that during the search operation, militants fired on the search party. Initially, the civilians were moved away from the site of the encounter to safer locations. government forces then engaged the militants in an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed. This was a group of militants involving proscribed outfits HM and LeT. The slain militants were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Padder alias Saif resident of Adijan Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood resident of Yamrach Kulgam, Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim resident of Okey Kulgam, Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda resident of Fatehpora Anantnag and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai resident of Nagnad Noorabad Damhal Hanjipora,” the spokesman said.
“Gulzar Paddar was a close associate of Altaf Kachroo and was involved in a series of militant attacks including the killing of five police personnel at Pambay last year along with two bank employees,” he said.
The spokesman said that he was also involved in the killings of SPO at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. Besides he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area.
“Zahid of Okey village was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on the day of Eid,” he added.
“Faisal was involved in the killing of Policeman Gowhar Ahmad who was posted in Shopian last year,” he said.
“Zahoor @ Rehman and Mansoor was involved in series of militant offences besides recruitment bid in the locality,” the spokesman said.
“They were affiliated with proscribed militant outfits LeT and HM. Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter,” the police spokesman said.
