Srinagar, Jan 5 (GNS): Three Jash-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter with police along with army and CRPF in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.
“Acting on specific input regarding presence of (militants) in village Chandgam area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, (army’s) 55RR and 182Bn CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
During the search operation, he said, as the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated “effectively”, leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, he said, three militants were killed and their bodies retrieved from the site of encounter. Two among the militants have been identified as Mir Owais of Ashmander Pulwama and a Pakistani national Talha Yasir of JeM. Regarding the third militant, he said, although the recoveries made from the site of encounter indicate him to be a foreigner however his identification is being ascertained.
“As per police records, all the killed militants were part of group involved in several cases including attacks on security forces,” he said. Several cases were registered against identified militants, he said. “Owais was involved in killing of a civilian namely Azad Ahmad Dar of Kangan Pulwama. Talha was mastermind in preparation of Vehicle-borne IEDs besides, involved in attack on civilian at Wanpora area of Pulwama.”
He said “incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two M-4 Carbine and 01 AK series rifle were recovered from the site of encounter”.
“IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint security forces for conducting successful operation without any collateral damage and also appreciated people of the area for their cooperation with the forces by maintaining calm and not resorting to any kind of violence during the course of operation,” he said. (GNS)
