Srinagar: Three local militants of Al-Badr outfit were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Pulwama district, police said, adding that they were involved in the attack on BJP leader’s house in Srinagar.
“Just after the attack on BJP leader in Nowgam Srinagar, Srinagar Police shared a lead with Pulwama Police regarding presence of (militants) in Larve Pulwama. Pulwama Police further developed the specific intelligence regarding presence of (militants) in a residential house belonging to Nawaz Ahmad Dar in village Dhobi Mohalla area of Kakapora,” a police spokesman said, adding, “ Accordingly, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 183Bn CRPF in the area.”
During the search operation, he said, as the presence of militants got ascertained “they were given an opportunity to surrender.” However, they started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.
“The joint party also tactfully rescued five civilians who were made hostages by the trapped (militants). During encounter, a stray bullet hit a woman in her leg and was immediately removed to hospital for treatment where her condition is stated to be stable,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, three (militants) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.” They have been identified as Junaid Ahmad Nengroo of Prichoo Pulwama, Suhail Nisar Lone and Yawar Ahmad Wani both residents of Khrew Pampore, affiliated with Al-Badr and LeT, he said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that yesterday’s Nowgam attack was jointly carried out by Srinagar/Pulwama based (militants) of LeT and Al-Badr outfits in which one police personnel (was killed) and his rifle was also snatched,” he said, adding, “Militants Suhail Nisar and Junaid Ahmad used an Alto-800 vehicle bearing registration number JK13E-2098 to commute from Nowgam to Pulwama which belongs to the house owner where encounter took place.”
Pertinently, the spokesman said, the SLR rifle snatched from the policeman on Thursday at Nowgam was also recovered from the encounter site and the recovery of the rifle corroborates the involvement of the killed militants in the attack, he said.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-47 rifle, one SLR rifle and one pistol were recovered from the site of encounter,” he said, adding, “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other incidents.”
The last rites of the slain militants were performed after conducting medico-legal formalities at Baramulla.
