Hizbul militant killed in Shopian encounter
Srinagar: A militant associated with Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Shirmal area of the south Kashmir district after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said as the forces were conducting searches, militants fired upon them.
The official said that during the ensuing gunfight one militant was killed whose body is at Zainapora police station.
Meanwhile, police in a statement said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in orchards of Shirmal area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 178Bn CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they 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.
He has been identified as Sajad Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Qadir Bhat resident of Badigam Aishmuqam Anantnag linked with Hizbul Mujahideen. As per police records, the killed militant was active since 14-09-2020 and was involved in several cases.
Arms and ammunition including one pistol with magazine, one grenade and other incriminating materials were recovered from the encounter site. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other cases. During the search operation, one hideout was busted and later on destroyed.
In this connection, police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any.