Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said the militant killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in a gunfight in Panduchan area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district was affiliated with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit.
A police spokesman said that on a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Panduchan area of district Shopian.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said police spokesman in a statement.
“In the initial exchange of fire one army Jawan identified as Sepoy Rambir Singh of 34 RR sustained gunshot injuries who was evacuated to hospital for treatment however he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom. We pay our rich tributes to the martyr for the supreme sacrifices made in the line of duty,” a police spokesman in a statement.
“In the ensuing encounter, so far dead body of one terrorist has been retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain militant has been identified as Zeenat ul Islam Naikoo resident of Memandar Shopian,” he added.
“Zeenat as per the police records was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM and was wanted by law for his complicity in series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” said the spokesman.
“According to the police records, he was part of groups involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities,” he said. “Zeenat has a long history of crime records and several crime cases were registered against him including Case FIR No. 195/2018 pertaining to attack on P/S Shopian, Case FIR No. 268/2019 pertaining to the abduction of one civilian namely Shakoor Ahmad, Case FIR No. 281/2019 pertaining to the killing of 04 Policemen in Shopian, Case FIR No. 304/2018 pertaining to arson and burning of Panchayat Ghar at Kanjiullar, Case FIR No. 318/2018 pertaining to the grenade attack on PS Shopian and killing of one policeman, Case FIR No. 343/2018 pertaining to firing on Army Camp at Matribugh, Case FIR No. 344/2018 pertaining to firing on police camp at Gagran, Case FIR No. 352/2018 pertaining to firing on patrol party of security forces at Memandar, Case FIR No. 378/2018 pertaining to attack on PS Shopian, Case FIR No. 11/2019 pertaining to grenade attack and firing on police camp at Gagran and Case FIR No. 45/2019 pertaining to the abduction and killing of one civilian namely Tanveer Ahmad,” he said.
“Dead body of the slain militant has been handed over to the family members after completion of medico-legal formalities,” he added.
“Incriminating material including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Search in the area is still in progress,” said the spokesman.
“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.
