SRINAGAR: A militant killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Nadigam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that based on a specific input generated by Shopian Police regarding the presence of militants in the village Nadigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army and 178Bn CRPF in the said area.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militant fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” said the spokesman.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Umar Ishfaq Malik @Musa son of Ab Ahad Malik resident of Bongam Shopian linked with proscribed terror outfit HM,” he said.
“As per police records the slaib was a categorized militant and was active since 2020. He was involved in several crime cases including attacks on forces and civilian atrocities including recent attack on ASI Shabir Ahmad at Amishijipora Shopian while he was returning back from nearby mosque after offering prayers,” he added.
“He was also instrumental in motivating the gullible youth to join folds and other criminal activities. Besides, he was also providing logistic and other support to the active militants in the area before joining the ranks,” he further added.
He added that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
“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 the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said the police spokesman in a statement.
