Jammu Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said that all the three militants killed in an encounter at Batamaloo area of Srinagar were locals from South Kashmir and that this year so far 177 militants were killed in 72 operations across the Valley.
He termed the killing of a 45-year-old woman in “cross firing” as unfortunate and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar, DGP Singh said that early morning, joint teams of police and CRPF while acting on a lead zeroed in on a house where three militants were hiding.
“They were given a chance to surrender but they refused and fired. One CRPF officer and another CRPF man sustained injuries in the initial exchange of firing. The officer is critical and we are praying for his recovery,” the DGP Singh said.
He said that the forces conducted the operation in a professional manner and killed all three militants. “However, in a woman was caught in the cross firing. Her killing is very unfortunate and we express sympathy with the bereaved family,” the DGP Singh said.
He was flanked by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and new IG CRPF Srinagar sector Charu Sinha. The slain woman was identified as 45-year-old Kousar Jan.
About the identification of the three slain militants, the DGP Singh said that all three were local militants from South Kashmir. “Arms and ammunition was recovered from them,” he said.
“Today’s operation was seventh one in Srinagar in the recent past, but biggest success was the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Junaid Sehrai,” the J&K Police chief said.
The DGP termed the alleged assaults on mediamen at encounter sites as unfortunate stating that such things shouldn’t take place. “But at times, during operations, our men have high temper which result in such incidents. I reiterate that media and policemen are each other’s good friends,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, new IG CRPF Srinagar Sector Charu Sinha said that there is a huge difference between the situation in Naxal areas and Kashmir especially Srinagar.
“We will work professionally in collaboration with police and other agencies,” she said—(KNO)