SRINAGAR: Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that one of the two militants killed in Padgampora Awantipora Encounter was behind the killing of Sanjay Sharma.
Vijay Kumar said that one militant had also taken refugee in the mosque and was tactfully neutrailised without any damage to the mosque.
‘Extreme caution and limited firepower was used in view of the sacred precincts. Civilians praying inside were also evacuated on time preventing any collateral damage.,” he said,
Adding further he said that while resuming the search for the second militant, who had holed up inside a bathroom of an adjacent building, again caution was exercised and 14 civilians were rescued from the place before he was neutralized.
The Killed militants have been identified as Aqib Mushtaq Bhat of Malangpora, Pulwama (A Category) associated with HM and for past few months working with LeT (TRF)and Aijaz Ahmad Bhat of Syedabad Pastuna Tral (C-Category) associated with JeM and also working in coordination with HM and LeT, he said.
Aqib was active since January 2021 and Aijaz was active since May 2022, the officer said.
He said that police have been successful in neutralizing the killer of Sanjay Kumar within short period of time.
Divulging the details regarding the encounter, the ADGP said that based on specific information about the presence of militants, a joint cordon and search operation was launched.
He added that as soon as police and security forces reached the target area, the hiding militants opened fire, leading to an encounter.
We have also lost brave soldier during the gunfight, the officer added.
Investigation so far revealed that both the militants, although joined through different militant organisations, had come together to conspire and attack minorities, outsiders, other vulnerable targets and security forces, the officer said
He said that as soon as police and security forces reached the target area, the hiding militants opened fire, leading to an encounter.
We have also lost brave soldier during the gunfight, the officer added.
