The Jammu Kashmir Police identified JeM militants who were killed in a gunfight in Mirhama area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A Police official had told The Kashmiriyat on Wednesday night 9 RR of Indian Army’s 9RR Jammu Kashmir Police, and 18 BN of CRPF launched a joint Cordon and Search operation in the Mirhama area of Kulgam.
According to a police statement, the house where the militants were trapped was cordoned in the said village and initially, civilians were evacuated to the safer areas and an opportunity for surrender was given to the trapped militants.
The militants denied and opened indiscriminate fire upon the Security forces. Intermittent exchange of fire kept taking place in the encounter, later the three trapped militants were killed, the statement read.
The Police identified the slain militants as Mohammed Shafi Dar resident of Tral (JeM), Uzair Ahmad resident of Mirhama; both were C categorized militants of militant outfit JeM, and one Foreign (Pakistani) militant Shahid, who was listed among the top most wanted list of militants in J&K, they said.
Sources told The Kashmiriyat that Uzair Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammed Maqbool Bhat, a resident of Mirhama (23) had joined militancy on 26 May 20221.
His father, Mohammed Maqbool Bhat had said that soon after he left home, we tried to call him several times. “His phone was switched off.”
“We called our relatives and his friends but could not find him,” he said while appealing to his son to come back.
Mohammed Shafi Dar, a resident of Tral had gone missing from his home on 05 December, 2021.
Incriminating material including 02 AK47 and one M4 rifle along with ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
Regarding the incident, case with FIR number 259/2021 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Kulgam and investigation has been initiated.
“People are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone as such area can prove dangerous and to cooperate with Police till the area is completely sanitized, reads the statement,” the Police statement added.