Two LeT militants killed in Awantipora encounter
Pulwama: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Braw-Bandina village of Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday morning, police said.
A police spokesperson said that a cordon and search operation was launched in the Braw-Bandina village of Awantipora area of Pulwama district following a credible tip off about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint column of 55RR, CRPF and SOG of J&K police ring fenced the suspected spot and intensified searches, the hiding militants fired upon the forces which they retaliated and leading to an encounter.
“After the ensuing encounter two militant bodies were retrieved from the encounter site” said the spokesman, and identified the slain duo as Irfan Ahmad Digoo of Naina Batpora village of Pulwama and Tasuduk Amin Shah of Kadlabal Pampore, both affiliated with LeT militant outfit.
The police spokesman said “both the killed militants as per police records were wanted by law for their complicity in militancy related crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.”
According to police records, Irfan was part of groups involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. He was involved in case FIR No 35 of 2018 pertaining to attack on security forces in Ellahibagh Pulwama in which one jawan was killed.
“Tasaduk as per the police records was involved in Case FIR No 27/2019 of PS Pantha Chowk pertaining to killing of civilian. Several militant crime cases were registered against them,” added the spokesperson.
The police spokesperson also said that “incriminating materials including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.”
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any” added the spokesman.
A police official said that, according to police records slain Irfan Ahmad Digoo had joined militant ranks in July 2018.
A native of Naina village informed that slain Irfan had joined militant ranks in beginning of July 2018.
Irfan, a BA drop out was a driver by profession before joining militant ranks and is survived by two younger brothers besides his parents.
According to a local resident of Kadlabal Pampore slain Tasaduq was missing from his home since a civilian was killed in Panthachowk area of Srinagar on 3rd of this month.
Before joining militant ranks he (Tasaduq) was working in private iron and steel industry and is survived by a daughter, son, wife and his mother and two siblings.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the slain militants in Naina and Pampore area of Pulwama district.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people including women and children participated in their multiple funeral prayers and they were laid to rest amid massive pro freedom and pro militant slogans.
Meanwhile, in wake of the gunfight internet services were snapped in southern Kashmir on Friday.
Jahangeer Ganaie
