Suhail Dar
The Jammu Kashmir Police said that the militant killed in Awantipora encounter has been identified as an associate of Lashkar e Taiba.
They identified the slain as Owais Raja.
Owais Raja, aged 21, a resident of Subhanpora in Bijbehara belt of Anantnag had gone missing on 28 December, last year, The Kashmiriyat reported.
His family speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that Owais was the youngest among his siblings. They had issued a video on 02 January 2022 appealing Owais to return home.
“He was studying and at the same time working as an employee at a local shop. He left home on 28 December morning but did not return home. His phone has been switched off since then,” his sister had said.
Hailing from a poor family, Owais’s father had passed away two years ago.
The Jammu Kashmir Police said, on a specific input generated by JK Police, the joint team of Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area.
As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces triggering off a gunfight. During the gunfight one militant was killed.
Meanwhile The Kashmiriyat spoke to the family of Owais Raja who confirmed that they have been called by the Police to join the last rites of Owais who will be buried in north Kashmir.