SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday late evening following statement regarding Tujjar gunfight saying that today at around 1850hours on a specific input, the operation was launched by Sopore Police at Tujjer Sharief falling under the jurisdiction of Police station Bomie and after establishing contact 22RR and 179BN CRPF also joined the operation.
A police spokesman in a statement said that during the search operation, as the presence of a militant got ascertained he was given the opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain militant has been identified as Ab Gani Khawaja @Skinder, resident of Khawaja Mohalla Kralgund, chief of proscribed outfit Al- Badr,” said a police spokesman in a statement.
“As per police records, the slain militant was involved in several criminal cases including attacks on forces and civilian atrocities besides he was main recruiter of innocent youth into militants ranks,” he said, adding that “dozens of militant related and other crime cases have been registered against him in north Kashmir which include grenade blast at Bus-Stand Sopore, in which 19 civilians sustained injuries on 28-10-2019, Riffle grenade attack at Police Post Warpora, in which two Police Personnel got injured on 21-03-2019, attack upon Joint Naka Party of Police/ CRPF at Bismillah-Colony, Model-Town Sopore, in which four CRPF personnel got seriously injured and one among them while being evacuated to hospital succumbed to injuries.”
“In the incident, one civilian identified as Bashir Ahmad Khan got also killed by the bullets fired by militants on 01-07-2020, an attack upon CRPF Naka Party at Ahad-Baba Crossing Noorbagh Sopore in which 03 CRPF Personnel were killed at two got seriously injured on 18-04-2020, killing of one civilian namely Danish Manzoor Najar @ Ishfaq S/O Manzoor Ahmad Najar R/O Edipora Bomai Sopore on 06-06-2020 and attack on Police Party of Police Post Warpora at Warpora Chowk, in which one SPO and one civilian were killed and one SPO got injured on 04-03-2020,” he said.
“He was also involved in killing of civilians and grenade attacks on Police/SFs establishments. He was also involved in providing arms and ammunition to militant associates for carrying out subversive activities in the area. He was operating in the areas of North Kashmir including Langate, Upper/Lower Qaziabad, Handwara, Sopore, Zainageer, Tujjar, Barahampora etc,” he added.
The spokesman said that 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 his complicity in other militant crimes.
“IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has appreciated Police and SFs for the big success in eliminating chief operational commander of proscribed outfit Al- Badr without any collateral damage,” said the spokesman.
“The last rites of the slain militant shall be performed after conducting his medico-legal formalities and his 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.
