SRINAGAR: Three militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Check Cholan area of Shopian were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit, an official said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that acting on specific input generated by Police regarding the presence of militants in village Check Cholan 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 militants got ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender; however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said.
“In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists of proscribed militant outfit LeT (TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Amir Hussain Ganie son of Manzoor Ahmad resident of Check Cholan Shopian, Rayees Ahmed Mir son of Nazir Ahmad resident of Kapran Shopian and Haseeb Ahmad Dar son of Mohd Yousuf Dar resident of Khudwani Kulgam,” he said.
“As per police records, all the three slain were categorized militants and linked with proscribed outfit LeT (TRF) were part of groups involved in several crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities,” he added.
“Pertinently, the slain militant Aamir Hussain was active since Sept-2020 and involved in several crime cases including Case FIR No. 264/2021 of PS Shopian regarding attack on Police/SF at Village Rakhma on 01/10/2021,”said the spokesman, adding that “he was also involved in luring gullible youth to join militant folds. While as Rayees Ahmad was active since June-2021 and involved in several crime cases including attack on Police/SF. He was also involved in attack on Police/SF at Village Rakhma. Besides, terrorist Haseeb Yousuf was also involved in several crime cases in the areas of Kulgam.”
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK 74 rifle and 02 pistols were also recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the spokesman said.
“IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint teams for carrying out an operation in a professional manner without any collateral damage,” he said.
“Police have registered cases 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,” the spokesman said.
