Three militants killed in the encounter at the Khandaypora area in Awantipora have been identified, Jammu Kashmir Police said.
The Jammu Kashmir Police said that on a specific input generated by Police regarding the presence of terrorists in the Khandipora area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army (55RR) in the Khandaypora area.
As the joint party approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately on the atarch party, retaliating effectively, leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, 03 terrorists were killed. Among the killed terrorists, 01 is a foreign terrorist and another one is a LeT terrorist commander identified as Mukhtar Bhat while the identification of the third killed terrorist is being ascertained. As per police records, all the killed terrorists were involved in several terror crimes including the killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. As per the source, Mukhtar Bhat along with FT was going for a fidayeen attack on the security force camp,” the Jammu Kashmir Police had said.
Incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 AK-56 rifle & 01 pistol was recovered, Police stated.
The slain included a Pakistani national Mushfiq, while two of the slain were local militants from the Pulwama district of south Kashmir. Mukhtar Ahmed Bhat, who Police said was an active commander of TRF was also killed during the encounter.
According to Jammu Kashmir Police’s official communique, the three were planning for a major strike on Forces near the Jammu -Srinagar highway.
As per details available with The Kashmiriyat, Mukhtar Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Pulwama’s Kakapora area went missing on April 18, 2022.
According to Police, Mukhtar worked as an over-ground worker for TRF for several years before being recruited into the Militant group. “He was also involved in radicalizing youth to take up arms against the country and engaging in activities that were detrimental to national security,” Police said.
According to Police, Mukhtar was involved in the May 13 killing of Policemen Riyaz Ahmed Thoker at his home in Gadoora, Pulwama. He was also involved in an attack on two migrant laborers in Ugergund, Pulwama, one of whom was seriously injured.
The third slain was identified as Gazanfar Ahmad son of Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Koil Pulwama, Official sources told The Kashmiriyat.
ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint forces for successful operations and termed these as a big success for the forces. He also said that Awantipora Police & Army averted a major terror incident.
He said that cases under relevant sections of the law have been registered at respective police stations and further investigations are in progress. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the areas at encounter sites are completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.