Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief DGP Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said that two militants were killed and another was injured on Srinagar-Baramulla road after they fired at police and CRPF party in Lawaypora area.
While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, DGP said the encounter began after three bike-borne militants opened fire on the 73 Bn CRPF personnel who were posted at a mobile checking unit in the area.
The forces retaliated, killing two militants, he said, adding that the third one was captured in an injured condition when he was trying to flee from the spot.
He said a CRPF Constable identified as Ramesh Ranjan, 30, received a bullet injury on the head and lost his life.
The DGP further informed that around 20 militants have been killed so far this year.
Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar, said the slain militants have been identified as Zia Ur Rehman of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Khateeb of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
“The injured militant is Umar Fayaz of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK),” he said.
The trio was involved in several acts of militancy and several FIRs were registered against them, Kumar said, adding this incident shows that militant outfits are working in tandem.
A large number of arms and ammunition including two pistols and grenades were recovered from them, he added.
“Three people, riding a scooter without a helmet, were asked to stop at the specially arranged nakka or checkpost. The person sitting in the rear got down and resorted to firing, one CRPF man was hit in the head but he fired back,” Zulfikar Hassan, Additional DG CRPF said. “Two militants died and a third one was arrested, sophisticated arms and grenades were recovered from them,” he said.
Dilbagh Singh said there was a heavy rush on the highway but security forces maintained great caution to ensure there was no collateral damage.
Singh said this year many successful anti-militancy operations were carried out and many militant modules were busted.
Asked about the harassment of youth on VPN use, DGP said: “There are reports that VPN is being misused here. For example, the truck driver (involved in Bann toll plaza encounter on January 31) first clicked a photograph of encounter and sent it to Pakistan as an evidence that they have been intercepted. Such use and misuse is happening.”
