Four militants killed in Kulgam encounter: Police
Slain militants were involved in civilian killings: DGP
Srinagar: Four militants were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
The security forces on Saturday morning launched a cordon and search operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in Hardmand Guri village in Kulgam, a police spokesperson said.
“This operation was based on a credible police input. Four militants have been killed,” he said.
Police said that the killed militants were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen.
While bodies of three of them were recovered as soon as guns fell silent, the dead body of fourth militant was recovered from under the debris of a house which was razed to rubble early weekend morning at Hardmanguri area of Khur Batpora.
The gunfight ensued after a joint team of army’s 34 RR, paramilitary CRPF and police’s SOG laid a cordon around the area in the wee hours amid “specific information” about the presence of a group of militants there.
The militants, a police officer said, were asked to lay down arms and an announcement in this regard was made through public address system.
However, the officer said, the militants turned down the offer and instead started firing from the house where they were hiding. The joint team retaliated, triggering off an encounter in which the militants were killed, the police officer said, adding that an army soldier also sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized.
“Three militant bodies were recovered soon after the gunfight was over while fourth one was recovered from under the debris of the target house,” the officer said. He said the operation was launched after the specific information pointing to the presence of the group of four militants.
Reports suggested extensive damage to several houses and not just the one where militants were purportedly hiding.
Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh confirmed the killing of four militants. The top officer of J&K claimed that the slain militants were responsible for recent killings in the southern Kashmir district.
“A group of Hizb militants was killing civilians over the last 12 days. Police were able to track them down today. Bodies of all four militants have been recovered,” Singh said.
Two of the slain militants, Singh said, were locals while the identities of two others are being ascertained.
“During ongoing Corona Preventive efforts, the killing of innocent civilians by mindless militants was highly barbaric and condemnable,” the DGP added.
Defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said four militants were killed. “Weapons and warlike stores have been recovered,” he added.
Meanwhile, police spokesman identified the slain as Shahid Sadiq Malik resident of Khull DH Pora Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf Malik @Sadam resident of Arwani district Anantnag, Waqar Farooq Itoo resident of Hanan Chawalgam DH Pora. “The identity of 4th slain militant is yet to be ascertained”.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunitions including 01 AK-47, 01 SLR, 01 Insas Rifle and 01 Pistol were recovered from their possession.
“Recently, while Police and Security Forces were busy in assisting the administration in combating Coronavirus, the slain militants started killing innocent civilians,” the spokesman said.
“On 01-04-2020 they killed two innocent civilians namely Hassan Rakha and Sheraj-Uddin Gossi residents of Nandimarg DH Pora Kulgam. On 02-04-2020 they also killed another civilian namely Mohammad Showkat Dar resident of Fatehpora Anantnag,” the spokesman said.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any. (with inputs from GNS)
