Srinagar: A journalist-turned-militant was among the two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, who were killed in a gunfight with police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during midnight at Rainawari area of Srinagar, police said on Wednesday.
“Based on specific input generated by police regarding the presence of (militants) in the Rainawari area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Valley QRT CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said.
“During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militants) fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” he said.
In the ensuing encounter, he said two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Rayees Ahmad Bhat and Hilal Ahmad Rah, both residents of Bijbehara Anantnag.
As per police records, he said, the duo was categorized militants and “part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.”
“ It is pertinent to mention that Rayees Ahmad was earlier working as a journalist and was running online news portal ‘Valley News Service’ in Anantnag,” he said, adding, “He had joined (militant) ranks in year 2021 and was wanted by law in cases related to (militant cases”.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson said that IGP Kashmir congratulated Police and Valley QRT CRPF for carrying out the operation in a “professional manner without any collateral damage.”
