SRINAGAR: A militant killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Uzrampathri area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that police and army neutralized ‘A+’ categorized militant of proscribed outfit HM involved in several crimes including attack on Minority Guard in year 2018 at Zainapora Shopian, in which 04 police personnel were killed.
“During the intervening night of 14/15 December, acting on a specific input regarding the presence of a militant in village Uzrampathri area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 182Bn CRPF in the said area,” said the spokesman.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained, he was given repeated opportunities to surrender; however he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant of proscribed outfit HM was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Heff-Shrimal Shopian,” he added.
“As per police records, the slain militant was A+ categorized militant and was part of groups involved in several crime cases including attacks on forces and civilian atrocities. Pertinently, the killed militant was active since 2017 and involved in several crime cases including attack on the Minority Guard in December 2018 at Zainapora resulting in martyrdom of 04 Police personnel and looting their service rifles,” said the spokesman.
“He was also involved in killing of a girl namely Ishrat Muneer daughter of Muneer Ahmad Bhat resident of Dangerpora Pulwama in February 2019. He was involved in killing of a non local labour namely Charnajeet son of Hans Raj resident of Fazila Punjab and injuring other in October 2019 when they were loading Apple boxes in a vehicle in Zainapora area of Shopian. Besides he was also instrumental in luring the gullible youth to join militant ranks,” he said.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including one AK rifle along with three magazines were also recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” he added.
“Police have registered case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” said the spokesman.
