Srinagar: Three local militants of Al-Badr and a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir police were killed and a police constable injured in two different encounters in Kashmir on Friday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said.
Talking to reporters, Kumar said on a tip off about presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at village Badigam in south Kashmir district of Shopian late last night.
He said operation was stopped due to darkness.
However, this morning with the first light house owner and his family were rescued before launching a final assault.
The encounter ensued when forces were trying to enter the house, he said adding fire was retaliated ensuing in an encounter in which three unidentified militants were killed.
He said all the three militants were locals belonging to Al-Badr militant oufit.
The deceased militants were identified as Suhail Sheikh @Azeem son of Abdul Ghani Sheikh resident of Turkwangam, Shahid Ahmad Dar @Furkan son of Bashir Ahmad Dar resident of Samboora Awantipora and Muddasir Ahmad Wagay son of Fayaz Ahmad Wagay resident of Chak Sangren.
“Arms & ammunition including 02 AK rifles, 05 AK magazines, 96 AK rounds, 01 pistol, 01 pistol magazine, 05 pistol rounds and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter,” the IGP said.
Another CASO was launched by troops at Beerwah area in central Kashmir district of Badgam in the wee hours today following a specific information about the presence of militants.
“When the security men were sealing the area, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons in which a SPO Mohammad Altaf and Selection Grade Constable (SgCt) Manzoor Ahmad was injured. Altaf later succumbed,” the IGP said.
He said taking advantage of the darkness, the militant believed to be two in number managed to escape in an injured condition from the spot.
“Efforts are on to track the militants,” he said.
