Two Al Badr militants killed in encounter
Srinagar: Two Al Badr militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Khonmoh area of Srinagar district on Monday, police said.
The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the area on the outskirts of the city, following information about the presence of militants there, they said.
The operation turned into an encounter after militants opened firing on the security forces’ positions, police said and added that the two militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight.
The slain militants were affiliated to the proscribed Al Badr outfit and they have been identified as Wasim Bashir Pandit and Mudasir Ahmad Khanday, a police spokesman said.
Weapons and explosives, including two pistols, were recovered from the scene of the encounter, he added.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Police Chief, IGP Vijay Kumar said that there are five militants active in Srinagar who are being tracked while as there is a vast network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in the district.
“Many were arrested while C-category OGWs are being counselled and handed over to their families,” he said.
“There were six active militants in Srinagar of which one was recently killed in Kokernag (Anantnag) gunfight. Now there are five local militants still active in Srinagar who would either be killed or apprehended,” IGP Kashmir told reporters at Pantha Chowk.
He said that there is a vast network of OGWs active in Srinagar district of which many have already been arrested and booked under PSA and many are still on the police radar. Asked whether there was any foreign militant active in Srinagar, he said inputs about the movement of foreign militants continue to pour in but as of now “no foreign militant is permanently active in Srinagar district.”
To a query that IEDs are turning out to be a major challenge for security forces, the Kashmir police chief said that security forces are effectively dealing with the IED threat as evident with the recent seizure of 10-kg IED material in Shopian followed by the detection of another IED by the army.
“We are aware of the IED threat and are effectively dealing with the same by timely detection,” he said. (with PTI/KNO inputs)
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