Shopian again: 5 militants gunned down in encounter
SRINAGAR: Security forces on Wednesday gunned down five militants affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, taking the number of ultras killed in the last three days to 14, police said. Police officials said a top district commander of the militant outfit was also killed in the gunfight.
A cordon-and-search operation was launched by a joint team of police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles and 178 battalion of the CRPF in Sugoo area of Shopian in the morning on receiving specific information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said the operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon a search party of the forces, who retaliated. The bodies of the militants were recovered from the encounter site along with two AK-47 rifles, one SRL and a pistol, he added.
This is the third major encounter in Shopian in last three days. Nine Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled commander, were killed in two gunbattles with the security forces on
Sunday and Monday.
Kashmir inspector general of police Vijay Kumar said the encounter shows that militants from the Hizbul Mujahideen and the LeT ( TRF) are working together. ‘I congratulate our forces for showing highest order of professionalism which led to no collateral damage.’’
He said people have been cooperating with the police and bodies of the slain militants have been sent to Baramulla for last rites.
From the past one month, police are not handing over the bodies of militants to their family members, fearing that the funeral might lead to violation of Covid-19 restrictions. Some family members are allowed to travel to place of the funeral after identification. Meanwhile, the body of one Tariq Ahmed Paul of Pinjoora Shopian was recovered by police officials on Wednesday.
THIS IS THE 3RD MAJOR ENCOUNTER IN SHOPIAN IN LAST 3 DAYS; 14 MILITANTS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED IN THE DISTRICT SINCE SUNDAY