SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday issued a following statement regarding Tral gunfight saying that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Machama area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Awantipora Police, 42 RR and 180 BN CRPF in the said area.

A police spokesman said that during the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained he was given opportunity to surrender, however instead 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 has been identified as Irfan-ul-Haq Dar of village Gadikhal Charsoo Awantipora associated with proscribed outfit Al-Badr,” said the spokesman.

“As per the police records the slain has a long history of criminal involvement as in April 2019 he was involved in grenade lobbing on Police Station Awantipora for which case vide FIR No. 54/2019 under relevant sections of law and 7/27 A.Act stands registered at Police Station Awantipora and the subject was arrested and subsequently sent to Kot Balwal Jail Jammu. Earlier in 2016 he was involved in stone pelting/arson case of Police Station Awantipora FIR No. 126/2016 under relevant sections of law stands chargesheeted in the Court of law,” he said.

“After his release in April 2020, Irfan-ul-Haq was secretly involved in activities which include Al-Badr related recruitment in Awantipora & Tral areas. He was an important motivator and influenced young minds for joining militant ranks in Awantipora/Tral areas,” he added.

“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 body of the killed militant shall be sent to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the slain shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara,” said the spokesman.

“Incriminating materials including arms, 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  crimes,” he said.

“In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated,” he added.

“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” said the spokesman.

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