Srinagar
Police on Saturday issued the following statement regarding Pulwama encounter saying that a search operation was launched jointly by the forces based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Monghama area of village Sirnoo in district Pulwama today morning.
“During the search operation, which was an open field with hideout made by the militants, hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said.
“Consequently army personnel got injured and one army jawan succumbed to his injury while others are being treated at a hospital,” the police spokesman said.
The spokesman said that while the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured.
“The injured were evacuated to a hospital where unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries and others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable,” said the police spokesman.
“The loss of civilians is deeply grieved. Police once again appeal the citizens to remain away from encounter site as it is a prohibited zone which involves significant danger to life because of the nature of the encounter,” he said.
He said in this encounter three militants were killed. Bodies were handed over to the legal heirs after completion of medico-legal formalities.
“One of the killed militants has been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Thoker son of Abdul Majid Thoker resident of Sirnoo Pulwama,” he added. Pertinently, Zahoor had deserted from the army last year and joined HM militant outfit.
“He was a known militant commander and was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” he said.
“Several cases were registered against him and the prominent among them are case FIR No. 37/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 I.A.Act P/S Rajpora, Case FIR No. 105/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act, 427 RPC, 3 P.P.T Act P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 124/2018 U/S 7/27 I.A. Act, 148,336,149,307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 128/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act 307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 139/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/25 ULA of P/S Pulwama pertaining to the killing of policemen Aqib Ahmad Wagay of Puchal Pulwama,” said spokesman in a statement.
Police has registered a case in the matter. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered from the site of the encounter have been taken in case of records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other cases.
