SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have issued the following statement on the encounter that took place in north Kashmir. It s being reproduced in detail.
“On a specific input provided by Kupwara police regarding presence of terrorists in Nathipora area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 22RR and CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of LeT outfit were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as a local terrorist Wasim Ahmed Lone resident of Hatlangoo Sopore and a foreign terrorist Hamas alias Asrar alias Saria who was active since March 2018 in North Kashmir.
As per police records, both the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crimes including planning and executing of attacks on security establishments. Moreover, killed terrorist Hamas was also the mastermind of Sopore terror incident along with terrorist Mudasir Pandit @Maaz dated 29/03/2021 in which two Municipal Councillors and a policeman got martyred.
Arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 Insas rifle & other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Further search is in progress.
The last rites of the killed terrorists shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities and the nearest family members of local terrorist shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.
In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any.”
Later in the night, Jammu and Kashmir Police issued another additional statement on the encounter. It is being reproduced here:
“Apropos to our earlier press note regarding encounter at Nathipora area of Sopore it is further informed that the top commander @Hamas, @Asrar, a resident of Pakistan was affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT. He was active in Zainageer, Warpora, Hatlangoo, Brath , Darpora, Bomai, Zaloora and Nathipora areas of Sopore in North Kashmir.
As per police records, he was active since 2018 and figured among the list of top 60 terrorists released by J&K Police recently. Besides, being part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, he was very instrumental in misleading the gullible youth by motivating them to join terrorist folds.
Moreover, he was involved in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments. He was also involved in recent killing of two municipal councillors namely Peer Riyaz & Peer Shamsdin and a police personnel namely Shafat Ahmed on 29.03.2021.
Several terror crime cases were registered against him and was wanted by law for his complicity in other terror crimes including grenade lobbying on security establishments especially Police Post Bus Stand.
The other killed terrorist namely Waseem Nazir Lone son of Nazir Ah Lone resident of Hathlangoo, Sopore was a chronic stone pelter and was also working as terrorist associate till the date he went missing and joined proscribed terror outfit LeT. He was also part of the groups involved in terror crimes and several terror crime cases were also registered against him.
IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar-IPS has appreciated Police and SFs for the big success in eliminating commander of proscribed terrorist outfit LeT without any collateral damage.”
