SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday said that the militants killed in south Kashmir’s Shopian were affiliated with the Al-Badr outfit.

A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Kanigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched yesterday evening by Shopian  Police, 44RR and 178Bn CRPF in the said area.

“During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial firing two Army personnel got injured and were shifted to hospital for treatment. Due to darkness, the operation was suspended and the whole area was put under strict cordon,” said the spokesman.

“During the wee hours, the terrorists were again appealed to surrender, however they turned down the appeal and started firing indiscriminately. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Owais Farooq resident of Kadlabal Awantipora and Asif Lone resident of Turkwangam Shopian affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al Badr,” he said.

“As per police records, both the killed militants were part of the group involved in several militant activities including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, several crime cases were registered against Asif Lone including case FIR No. 98/2020 of PS Zainapora pertaining to attack on Army Naka party at Trenz Shopian on 07/12/2020 & FIR No. 153/2020 of PS Zainapora pertaining to pasting of posters whereby general public was threatened to keep away from recently concluded DDC election,” he added.

“Incriminating materials including arms and 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,” said the spokesman.

“The last rites of the slain militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities at Baramulla and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in the last rites,” he said.

“In this connection, 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 is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said a police spokesman in a statement.

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