by Tahir Bhat
Srinagar
Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday said that the two militants killed in a joint operation of the army, CRPF and Police in Sangam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.
While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, DGP identified the slain militants as Naveed Ahmad Bhat alias Furqan a resident Qaimoh Kulgam and Aqib Yaseen Bhat Wanpoh Qaimoh Kulgam.
The DGP said that Naveed was active since 2018 and Aqib was active since June 2019.
A large number of arms and ammunition were recovered from them, he added.
He said that the slain were involved in several acts of militancy and seven FIRs were registered against Naveed and one was registered against Aqib.
He said that 12 encounters between militants and forces took place in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2020.
The DGP further informed that around 25 militants have been killed so far this year. He added that 21 militants were killed in Kashmir and four were killed in Jammu.
He said several militant modules were busted in 2020 and 40 Over Ground Workers (OGW) of militants were arrested.
He added that at least 250 listed militants are active in Jammu and Kashmir till date.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said that the slain militants were wanted by law for their complicity in crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
“According to the Police records, Naveed had a history of crime records since 2018 and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registered against him including Case FIR No. 10/2019 pertaining to firing on Army camp at Khudwani Kulgam, FIR No. 31/2019 pertaining to civilian atrocities, FIR No. 67/2019 pertaining to planning of terror attacks on security forces in the area, FIR No. 03/2020 pertaining to recovery of ammunition at Rampora area of Kulgam besides several other crime cases were also registered against him including case FIR numbers 57/2018, 26/2019, 50/2019 of PS Qaimoh,” he added.
“Similarly, Aqib was involved in several crime cases including the attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. Several crime cases were also registered against him including case FIR No. 34/2019 and 03/2020 of PS Qaimoh,” the DGP said.
He said that pertinently there was no collateral damage during the course of encounter. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said the spokesman.
