SRINAGAR: A militant killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Rakhama area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that today at about 0500hrs based on specific input generated by Police regarding the presence of militants in village Rakhama area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 34RR and 178Bn CRPF in the said area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained he was given the opportunity to surrender, instead he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said the spokesman.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant identified as Mujeeb Lone son of Mohammad Amin Lone resident of Redwani Bala Kulgam was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said.
“As per police records, he had joined the militant folds recently and was linked with proscribed outfit LeT. He was responsible for creating terror among the locals and had been coercing innocent citizens to sympathise with anti-national elements,” he added.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including one pistol, 01 magazine were also recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” said the spokesman.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” he said.
Meanwhile, acting on a specific input generated by Pulwama Police, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by Police, 55RR, and 182Bn CRPF in the orchards of village Nikloora.
“During the search, one active militant of proscribed outfit LeT was apprehended. He has been identified as Shamim Sofi son of Gh Mohammad Sofi resident of Nikloora. As per police records, he had joined the folds in July 2021,” he said.
“Incriminating material, arms, and ammunition including one pistol was recovered from his possession. In both the incidents, Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law in respective police stations and further investigation is in progress,” the spokesman said.
