SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday issued following statement regarding Malbagh encounter saying that based on a credible input generated by Srinagar police regarding the presence of militants in Malla Bagh area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and 118Bn CRPF in the said area.
A police spokesman said that during the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, 01 militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain militant was identified as Zahid Ahmad Dass son of Ghulam Mohammad Dass resident of Waghama Bijbehara who was affiliated with proscribed outfit ISJK,” said the spokesman.
“Also one CRPF personnel identified as HC Kuldeep Kumar was critically injured during the said encounter who later on succumbed to his injuries. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and all ranks of Police and Security Forces have paid rich tributes to the CRPF man,” he said.
“The slain militant was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of crimes including killings of police and SFs and civilian atrocities. As per police records, he was also involved in the recent attack on 26th June in Padshahi Bagh area of Bijbehara, Anantnag in which a CRPF personnel and 6yrs old child got killed and FIR registered against him. Besides he escaped from an encounter on 30/6/20 in Anantnag in which two militants of ISJK got killed,” he added.
The spokesman said that incriminating material 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 his complicity in other terror crimes. IGP Kashmir congratulated teams of JKP and CRPF for this big success.
“Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead body of the slain militant has been sent to Handwara for his burial & last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the slain militant were allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara,” he said.
“In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in PS Nigeen and investigation has been initiated,” he 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.
