The militant killed in the encounter in Semthan area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has been identified by the Jammu Kashmir Police.
An official press communique from Police said that Jammu Kashmir Police along with the 3 RR of the Indian Army launched a cordon and search operation at the Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag following input regarding the presence of militants in the said area.
As the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively by the joint party leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, one local militant identified as Shakir Ahmad son of Habibullah resident of Ladermud was killed.
As per Police records the killed terrorist was linked with the proscribed outfit HM and was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.
Shakir, as per locals from Ladermud Pulwama, had gone missing from his home on 8 September 2022. His family has been trying to find him since, but to no avail, Locals told The Kashmiriyat.
The family had also issued an appeal asking Shakir to return home. “Shakir was a Hafiz e Quran (someone who memorizes Quran) and had left his home for a small work after which he disappeared. The family tried to ring him constantly, but his phone was switched off,” his family member had said.
Shakir’s father had passed away four years ago and he was the sole bread earner to a family of four, including his mother and two sisters.