14 militants killed in 3 operations in 4 days in the district
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, June 10: Five militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.
An official told KNO, that five militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter that broke out at Sugoo village of the district.
“A joint team of Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area. The militants hiding in a shed in an orchard fired upon forces, triggering an encounter,” he said, adding that all the five militants were killed in the gunfight.
This was the third encounter in the district in last four days. 14 militants including some top commanders were killed in these gunfights.
On June 7, five militants, including three top commanders of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in an encounter at Reban area of the district.
On June 8, four militants including two commanders were killed in an encounter at Pinjura area of the district.
A police spokesman said that on a specific input generated by Shopian Police regarding presence of militants in village Sugoo Handhama Shopian, a joint CASO was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in said area.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said.
He said the identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained. “However, as per credible sources the killed militants belonged to proscribed militant outfits. As per source report militants belong to HM and LeT.
One of them is district commander of HM,” he said, adding that police and SFs conducted the operation professionally and no collateral damage occurred. He said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes. In this connection a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated,” the police said.
