SRINAGAR: A former policeman was among four militants who were killed on Friday in an encounter with the counter-insurgent forces in Kiloora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in village Kiloora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 178BN CRPF in the said area.
“During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said the spokesman.
He said that in the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
“The slain militants have been identified as Shakoor Parray, Al Badr District commander, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar,” he added.
The spokesman said that during the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active militant identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora.
“As per police records, militant Shakoor Parray got engaged as SPO in year 2014 in District Police Kulgam. Meanwhile on operational grounds he was converted as Constable in Police Department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora,” he said.
He said that later on he was transferred from District Awantipora to District Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined militant outfit.
“After joining the militant groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates,” he added.
“He was main handler of proscribed militant outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into militant ranks,” said the spokesman.
“The details of the cases in which the said militant remained involved are FIR No 291/2012 U/S 148,149 ,307 436 A, 447,436 RPC of P/S Shopian, FIR No 21/2016 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR No25/2016 U/S 364,307 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR NO 08/2012 U/S 409,380,411 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Bijbehara and FIR NO 46/16 U/S 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Kulgam,” he said.
“All the slain militants had a long history of crime records. They were involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area including attacks on Police and security establishments,” he added.
He said that Shakoor and Suhail Bhat were also involved in recent abduction and killing of Khanmoh’s Panch.
“They were also involved in abduction of T.A soldier namely Shakir Manzoor Wagay resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed,” said the spokesman.
“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 dead bodies of the slain militants shall be sent to Handwara for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the slain militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara,” he said.
“Incriminating materials 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. There was no injury to civilians or loss of property during the said encounter,” he added.
“In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Imam-Sahib 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 a police spokesman in a statement.
