SRINAGAR: Two militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in Kutpora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district were affiliated with Al Badar outfit, police said.

A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Kutpora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Shopian Police, 34RR and 178Bn CRPF in the said area.

The spokesman said that during the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said, adding that they have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Thoker son of Mohammad Ishaq Thoker resident of Kutpora, Shopian and Umer Ahmad Lone son of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone resident of Naidgam Lone Mohallah, both affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badr.

“As per police records, both the killed militants were involved in many crime cases including looting of cash to the tune of sixty lac rupees from a team of J&K Bank, main branch Shopian while boarding in cash vain,” the spokesman said.

He said that incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were 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.

“Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for their burial & last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the slain militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla,” he said.

“In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated,” he added.

“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” said the spokesman.

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