SRINAGAR: Two militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Sopore tehsil of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input generated by Sopore Police regarding the presence of militants in village Hardshiva area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 22RR and 179Bn CRPF in the said area.
He said that during the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained. However as per credible sources, the slain militants belonged to proscribed LeT militant outfit,” said the spokesman.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their role and complicity in other crimes,” he said.
“The dead bodies of the slain militants have been sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including a collection of their DNA. In case any family claims the killed militants to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla,” he added.
“In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Bomie and investigation has been initiated,” he further added.
“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.
