‘They Were Involved In Looting Rs 60 Lakh from JKB Cash Van Recently’
Srinagar, Nov 10 (GNS): Two militants owning allegiance to Al-Badr were killed in an encounter with a joint team of police, army and CRPF in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
“On a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Kutpora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, (army’s) 34RR and 178 battalion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
“During the search operation, as the presence of (militants) got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.”
In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, he said.
They have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Thoker son of Mohammad Ishaq Thoker of Kutpora Shopian and Umer Ahmad Lone son of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone of Naidgam Lone Mohallah, both affiliated with Al-Badr.
“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were involved in many (militant) crime cases including looting of cash to the tune of sixty lakh rupees from a team of J&K Bank, main branch Shopian while boarding in cash vain.”
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were claimed to have been recovered from the site of encounter.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other (militant) crimes.”
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the spokesman said the bodies of the killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for their burial and last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. “In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.” (GNS)
