Naveed ul-Haq
Budgam, Sep 22: Jammu and Kashmir Police today said that a Jaish-e-Muhammad militant was killed and a soldier sustained injuries in an overnight encounter at Nowhal area of Charar-e-Sharif in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Police said that a few associates of the slain militant were active in the area who would be tracked very soon.
The encounter broke out yesterday evening at Nowhal area of Charar-e-Shareef, after joint teams of police, army and CRPF zeroed in Nowhal area of Charar-e-Shareef on the basis of a specific lead about the presence of militants in the area. “The operation was put on a halt for due to the dark and it resumed this morning again after which a militant was killed. A soldier had sustained injuries in the initial exchange of firing,” said an official.
Talking to the reporters, SSP Budgam Amod Nagpur said, “Yesterday evening joint teams launched an operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of militants in Nowhal area of Charar-e-Shareef area. “The militants fired indiscriminately at the forces with bullets and grenades. Today morning, one unidentified militant has been killed from whose possession large quantity of arms and ammunition besides incriminating material has been recovered,” the SSP said, adding that the slain militant is affiliated with the Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit.
Asked whether any militant managed to escape, he said that the operation as successful on part of the forces. “There are a few associates of slain militant active in the area and we will soon catch them,” the SSP said, adding that the identity of the slain militant is being ascertained.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that an army soldier of 53 RR sustained splinter injuries in the gunfight who was shifted to hospital for treatment. “In the ensuing gunfight, one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Asif Shah, a resident of Samboora, Pulwama who was affiliated with the militant outfit JeM,” the police spokesman said.
It said that the body of the slain militant shall be sent to Handwara for his last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials,” he said—(KNO)
