SRINAGAR: Four militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Badigam village in Zainapora area of Shopian were affiliated with the Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit, an official said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that based on specific input generated by police regarding presence of militants in Badigam area of Zainapora Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army (44RR ) in the said area.
The spokesman in a statement said that during the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. Later on CRPF also joined.
“In the ensuing encounter, four local militants linked with proscribed outfit LeT were killed,” he said, adding that they have been identified as Aaqib Farooq Thoker son of Farooq Ahmed Thoker, Waseem Ahmed Thoker son of Abdul Ghani Thoker, both resident of Heffkhuri, Zainapora, Farooq Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Salam Bhat and Shoqeen Ahmad Mir son of Mohd Abdulla Mir, both resident of Sugan.
“As per police records all the killed terrorists were categorized militants and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities,” said the spokesman.
Quoting IGP Kashmir the spokesman said that killed militants were active in Shopian and adjacent areas of Pulwama.
“They were involved in 6 crimes including attacks on outside labourers. Aaqib Farooq Thoker was involved in snatching of 12 Bore Rifle from JK guard Murran TP branch in which the bank guard Abdul Hamid Wani of Tahab got injured. He was also involved in Case FIRs 25/2022 & 26/2022 of PS Litter pertaining to attack on driver namely Deeraj Dutt resident of Pathankot and cleaners namely Surinder Singh and Sonu Sharma, both residents of Pathankot at Nowpora and Yadar respectively in which they got injured,” IGP Kashmir said.
IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint forces for conducting successful anti-terrorist operation without any collateral damage. IGP said that hunt for their associates like Aijaz of Pulwama is on and they will be neutralised soon.
Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, said the spokesman.
In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered 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, he said.
