SRINAGAR: Three militants were killed while an army major and two cops were injured in an encounter in Yadipora area of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, said police.
A police spokesman in a statement said that on a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Yadipora Pattan area of Baramulla, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 29RR, 176 BN of CRPF and 02 BN of SSB in the said area.
“During the cordon and search operation as the presence of hiding militants got ascertained, they were given the opportunity to surrender. However, they refused to surrender and instead held two families comprising of 12 members including children as a hostage. It was therefore after strenuous efforts of joint forces that all the family members were rescued and evacuated to the safer place,” said the spokesman.
“During the rescue operation, one army Major and two police personnel were injured as the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the rescue party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. The injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment and are stable,” he said.
He said that in the ensuing encounter, three unidentified militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.
“Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter,” he added.
The spokesman said that all the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes.
He said that the last rites of the slain militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities including a collection of DNA.
“In case any family claims the slain militants to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites to PCR Baramulla,” he said.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said police spokesman in a statement.