Srinagar, Feb 19 (GNS): Three local Al-Badr militants were killed in a gunfight in Shopian district of south Kashmir, officials said on Friday.
“At about 2335 hours on Thursday, based on specific input regarding presence of (militants) Badigam village of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, army’s 44RR and 178 battalion CRPF,” a police spokesman said in a statement to GNS.
“During the search operation as the presence of (militants) got ascertained, repeated announcements were made to the hiding militants to lay down their weapons and surrender, instead the hiding (they) fired indiscriminately and also managed to keep some of the inmates as hostage.”
Addressing reporters here, IGP Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar said militants had taken hostage the family including a minor girl.
“After waiting for three hours and with help of villagers, we brought the family outside.
The police spokesman said that due to darkness, the operation was suspended while the cordon remained intact throughout night.
“Today morning with the first light, the joint party tactfully were able to evacuate the hostage. Repeated announcements were again made to hiding (militants) to surrender but they fired indiscriminately which was retaliated (by the joint team), resulting in elimination of all the three hiding (militants),” he said.
They have been identified as Suhail Sheikh alias Azeem son of Abdul Ghani Sheikh of Turkwangam, Shahid Ahmad Dar alias Furkan son of Bashir Ahmad Dar of Samboora Awantipora and Muddasir Ahmad Wagay son of Fayaz Ahmad Wagay of Chak Sangren.
“The bodies of all the three killed (militants) were retrieved from the site of encounter. Arms and ammunition including two AK rifles, five AK magazines, 96 AK rounds, one pistol, magazine, 5 pistol rounds and other incriminating materials 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 terror crimes.” (GNS)
