Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said that the three militants shot dead by the government forces in a gunfight in Adkhara area of Shopian district were involved in several attacks on forces.
A police spokesperson in a statement said that on a credible input a cordon and search operation was launched today by Police and security forces at Adkhara Village in Imam Sahab area of district Shopian.
“During searches, the hiding militants fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. Initially, with the efforts of police and security forces, the civilians trapped around the encounter site were evacuated to safer places. Besides, one army jawan Yugendar Kumar sustained gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to hospital and is undergoing medical treatment,” said the spokesman.
“In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The three killed militants have been identified as Lateef Ahmad Dar alias Tiger of Dogripora Pulwama, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh alias Mufti Waqas of Moolu Chitragam Shopian and Shariq Ahmad Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian,” he said.
“According to the Police records, all the three militants were affiliated with the proscribed militant outfit HM and were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” he added.
“As per Police records, Lateef had a long history of crime records since 2014 and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registered against him,” said the spokesman.
“Similarly, Tariq also had a long history of crime records and was involved in several attacks. Several crime cases were registered against him. He was part of groups involved in planning and executing attacks on the security establishments in the area. He was instrumental in luring youth to join militant organisations. Moreover, he was also involved in several weapons snatching cases reported from the area. Shariq was also involved in several attacks,” he said.
“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case. All these incriminating materials have been taken in case records to probe their complicity in other crimes,” he added.
“Citizens are 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 the police spokesman.
