SRINAGAR: Five militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Hanjin area of Rajpora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, an official said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that during the intervening night, acting on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Hanjin Rajpora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 182/183 BN CRPF in the said area.
“During the search operation, the civilians were evacuated to safer places and as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said the police spokesman in a statement.
“Due to darkness the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout night. Today in the morning, repeated announcements were again made to hiding militants to surrender, but the militants fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated. In the initial exchange of fire two Army men received gunshot injuries and were evacuated to hospital, however one among the injured succumbed,” he said.
“During the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Nishaz Hussain Lone @ Khitab (district commander LeT) son of Manzoor Ahmed Lone, active since 2018, resident of Nageenpora Tral, Danish Manzoor Shiekh son of Manzoor Ahmad resident of Sathergund Kakapora, Amir Wagay son of Ab Gani Wagay resident of Hanjan Payeen, Mehran Manzoor resident of Jamalatoo Srinagar & a foreign militant identified as Abu Rehan @Tawheed resident of Pakistan. All the slain militants were linked with proscribed outfit LeT,” he added.
“As per police records, all the slain militants were part of groups involved in many crime cases and civilian atrocities,” said the spokesman.
“Arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Pertinently 01 SLR rifle bearing no. 16047232 which belonged to JKP (IRP 11 Bn) and was snatched by militants in the year 2016 from guard of TV tower Lower Munda, regarding which a Case vide FIR No. 135/16 stands registered at PS Duroo Anantnag was also recovered from today’s encounter site. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” he said.
“In this connection, police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any,” said the spokesman.
