Four militants killed in twin encounters with the Government forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district have been identified as associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-i- Toiba outfits.
A police spokesman in a statement said that Police along with RR of Indian Army and CRPF killed four local militants in twin encounters in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
Police along with Army (44RR) and CRPF (14 Bn) launched a joint cordon and search operation in village Drach Keegam area of Shopian following an input regarding presence of militants in the said area, Police said in its press release.
“As the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the search party. The joint party retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” he added.
The spokesman in a statement said that in the ensuing encounter, 3 local militants linked were killed and their bodies were recovered from the site of encounter.
The slain were identified as Zubair Maqbool Wani resident of Doompora Keegam, Jamsheed Ahmad Magray resident of Rajpora & Hanaan Bin Yaqoob @ Saqib resident of Kareemabad Pulwama,” he said.
Zubair Ahmed Wani,17, son of Mohammed Maqbool Wani, a resident of Dumpora in Shopian had been missing from his home since August 20.
“A student of class 11, Zubair left his home to offer Friday prayers with his scooter, but did not return. We have been trying to call him since, but to not avail,” his family had told The Kashmiriyat..
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, the family members of Hanan Bin Yaqoob (21) son of Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat, a resident of Karimabad Pulwama was missing from July 25.
“Hanan was released after 14 months of detention under the Public Safety Act on July 19. Two days ago, he left home for some work and since then, he has been untraceable,” they had said on July 28.
“Militants Hanan Bin Yaqoob and Jamsheed were involved in recent killing of SPO Javed Dar on 02/10/2022 at Pinglana area of Pulwama,” said the spokesman, adding that they were also involved in killing of an outside labourer from West Bengal in Gadoora.
He added that besides, militant Jamshed was involved in Ratnipora attack where he shot and injured two outside labourers.
Meanwhile, on a specific input regarding presence of militant at Moolu area of Shopian, police along with Army (44 RR) and CRPF (178 Bn) launched a joint cordon and search operation in the said area.
“As the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militant fired indiscriminately which was effectively retaliated by the joint search party resulting the elimination of a local militant. He has been identified as Arif Rashid Wani resident of Shirmal,” said the police spokesman.
As per Police records the killed militant was a categorised militant linked with proscribed outfit LeT. He was involved in several militant crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.
The Police said that Arms & ammunition including 04 AK series rifles, 01 Pistol, 08 AK magazines, 04 Pistol magazines & other incriminating materials were recovered from both the encounter sites. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.