SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday issued the following statement regarding Shopian gunfight saying that on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in village Sugoo Handhama Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in said area.
A police spokesman in a statement said that during the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained,” said the spokesman.
“However, as per credible sources, the slain militants belonged to proscribed outfit. As per source report militants belong to HM and LeT. One of them is Disstt Comdr of HM. Police and SFs conducted operation professionally and no collateral damage occurred,” he said.
“Pertinently in district Shopian, it was the third operation in the last three days in which 14 militants including top commanders were killed,” he added.
He said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” he said.
The spokesman said that in this connection a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said police spokesman in a statement.
