Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday claimed that the two militants killed in a gunfight with the forces were involved in several attacks and civilian atrocities in south Kashmir.
“Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Kathpora area of Yaripora in district Kulgam, a cordon and search operation was launched today jointly by Police and army in the area,” said a police spokesman.
“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight,” he said.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. The slain militants have been identified as Zeenat-ul-Islam alias Zeenat alias Usman son of Ghulam Hassan Shah resident of Shopian and Shakeel Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Rasheed Dar resident of Chillipora Shopian,” said the spokesman.
“Both the slain militants were affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badr and were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of crimes including the attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” he said.
“Zeenat-ul-Islam according to police records had a long history of criminal records since 2006 when he got affiliated with Al-Badr and was later arrested. However after he was released, he again got recycled in 2016 and subsequently got affiliated with proscribed militant outfit HM and recently he joined Al-Badr outfit in Shopian District. Consequently, he became the chief of the said outfit. Several crime cases were registered against him including FIR No17/2016 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act of PS Zainapora, FIR No 45/2016 under section 147,148,149,307,336,332,188,427 RPC, 7/27 I A act, 3 PPD Act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 02/2017 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 10/2017 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 26/2017 under section 447,427,506 RPC, 16 ULA (P) Act ,7/25 I A act at PS Zainpora and FIR No 50/2017 under section 7/27 I A act , 16 ULA (P) act at PS Zainpora. He was also involved in a weapon snatching case at Tukroo Shopian and case FIR No 319/2016 under section 380 RPC, 7/25 IA Act, 30 Police Act, 3 PEPO is registered at PS Shopian in this regard,” said a police spokesman.
The spokesman said similarly Shakeel Ahmad Dar was also involved in terror-related crimes as well.
“Incriminating material such as arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of the investigation,” he added.
Pertinently no collateral damage took place during the encounter. Bodies of the killed militants were handed over to their families after completion of medico-legal formalities.
“Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. 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.
