SRINAGAR: The two among three slain militants killed in a gunfight in Pozwalpora area of Zoonimar Zadibal in central Kashmir’s Srinagar on Sunday have been identified.
A police spokesman in a statement said, “On a specific input generated by Police regarding the presence of militants in Pozwalpora area of Zoonimar Zadibal area of district Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and CRPF in the said area.”
“During the search operation, the hiding militants were repeatedly appealed to surrender through family members and community members of the area but instead they started firing indiscriminately upon the search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” said the spokesman.
He said that in the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
“They have been identified as Shakoor Farooq Langoo of Bharthana Srinagar and Shahid Ahmad Bhat of Semthan Bijbehara. The identification of the other slain militant is yet to be ascertained. All the militants were affiliated with proscribed outfit HM/ ISJK,” said a police spokesman in a statement.
“As per police records, one of the slain militant namely Shakoor Farooq Lango was involved in the killing of two BSF personnel at 90ft road Soura on 20/05/2020 and the snatched AK rifle belonging to the BSF Jawan was recovered from the site of encounter,” he said.
“Yet again Police and SFs showed patience and exercised utmost restraint, thereby ensured a clean operation with no collateral damage in an otherwise highly congested and densely populated area of city Srinagar,” said police.
The spokesman said that incriminating material 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.
Pertinent to mention that in an operation which was launched yesterday evening at village Likhdipora of district Kulgam, one militant was killed. The slain was identified as Tayab Waleed @ Imran Bhai @ Gazi Baba, a Pakistani national affiliated with proscribed outfit JeM, he said.
“According to police records, he was the operational commander of JeM and was an expert in making IEDs besides being a sharpshooter. Arms and ammunition including one AK rifle, one M-4 Carbine, a Pistol and other incriminating material were recovered from the site of encounter,” said a police spokesman.
“Regarding the said encounters, cases under relevant sections of laws stands registered in concerned police stations and investigation has been initiated,” he said.
“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 slain militants have been sent to Handwara and Baramulla for their burial and last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the slain militants shall also participate in their last rites at Handwara and Baramulla,” said the police spokesman.
According to spokesman, IGP Kashmir has appreciated the teams of Police and CRPF for conducting a clean and successful operation in a very congested and densely populated area of Srinagar with no collateral damage.
“People are requested to be away from the encounter sites till the areas are sanitised and cleared from explosive materials, if any,” said police spokesman in a statement.
