Two militants killed in Kokernag encounter
Anantnag: Two militants were killed in an encounter between government forces and militants in Kachwan forests of Kokernag belt of Anantnag district, police said Tuesday.
An official said that on specific inputs about the presence of militants in forests of Kachwan area of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district a joint team of forces including 19 RR launched a search operation in the area.
On intensifying search operation towards the suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon forces triggering an encounter, he said
During the exchange of fire two militants were killed who identification is being ascertained, the official said.
Later police sources said that one of the slain militants was identified as a foreigner, a resident of Pakistan while as second was identified as a local resident Faisal Nazir son of Nazir Ahmed of Naibasti locality of Anantnag town.
Faisal originally hails from Qazigund area of Anantnag district.
“Faisal was a B.Tech pass out who had joined Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit just 45-days ago,” they said. The bodies of the two slain militants were kept at the district police lines Khanabal as the area witnessed massive protests and clashes.
“Hundreds of youth took to streets in Anantnag after the news of Faisal’s killing spread in the area. Clashes rocked old town, Khanabal, Naibasti and other adjoining areas as youth were demanding bodies of slain militants,” witnesses said.
They said that spontaneous shutdown was observed across Anatnang while as the authorities snapped internet facilities in the district.
Pertinently, this was the tenth encounter in southern Kashmir during the current month which claimed lives of 19 militants, mostly locals.
On 24 May, a top most militant commander and chief of Ansar Gazwut- ul Hind was killed in a 11 hour long gunfight at Dadsara Tral.
On May 22, two militants identified as Zahid Ahmad Mantoo from Feeripora Shopian and Irfan Manzoor from Poniwah Kulgam were killed in an encounter at Gopalpora Kulgam.
On May 21, militants managed to escape after brief exchange of fire in forests of Keller belt of Shopian district.
On May 18, three militants identified as Showkat Ahmad Dar from Panzgam Pulwama, Muzzafar Ahmad sheikh from Tahab Pulwama and Irfan Ahmad from Sopore were killed in an encounter at Panzgam Pulwama.
On May 16, two militants Yawer Mushtaq from Thokerpora Shopian and Shakeel Dar from Tokroo Shopian along with a civilian Ishtiyak Ahmad from Handew Shopian were killed in an encounter at Handew Shopian.
On May 16, three militants identified as Naseer Pandit from Kareemabad Pulwama, Umar Ahmad from Berthipora Shopian and Khalid Bhai a foreigner were killed in an encounter at Dalipora in main town Pulwama. A civilian identified as Rayees Ahmad was also killed during initial exchange of fire.
On May 12, two militants Javaid Ahmad Bhat from Redwani Kulgam and Aadil Bashir Wani from Warpora DH Pora Kulgam were killed in an encounter at Hind Sitapora area of Shopian.
On May 10, a militant identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi from Sopore was killed in an encounter at Amshipora Shopian.
On May 03, three militants identified as Lateef Dar alias Tiger from Dogripora Pulwama, Tariq Shamim sheikh from Molu Shopian and Shariq Nengroo from Chotigam Shopian were killed in an encounter at Adkhara Imamsahib area of Shopian district.
Jahangeer Ganaie
