Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 10: Two local LeT terrorists were killed in an encounter that broke out in Alshipora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.
A police official said that acting on specific information about the presence of terrorists, a joint cordon was laid by police, CRPF and the army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles at Alshipora village.
As the joint teams zeroed in on the suspected spot, the militants fired indiscriminately at the forces, triggering an encounter. In the exchange of fire, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved,” he said. “Two terrorists who have been identified as locals and affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit.
Meanwhile ADGP Vijay Kumar while identifying slain terrorists as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq said that Jazim was involved in killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma.
“ShopianEncounterUpdate: Killed #terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool & Jazim Farooq alias Abrar of #terror outfit LeT. #Terrorist Abrar was involved in killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma, Police post on ‘X’ while quoting ADGP Kashmir.
Officials said so far this year, 35 terrorists have been eliminated in different operations in the Kashmir Valley. “Thirty five number of terrorists have been killed in the valley including the two killed today in Kulgam, while majority of the killed terrorists were foreigners,” they said.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said that based on specific information regarding the presence of militants in Alshipora area of the south Kashmir district, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army’s 44RR and CRPF’s 178Bn in the area.
“During the search operation as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said, adding that “In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT were killed and their bodies retrieved from the site of encounter.”
He said that the slain have been identified as Marifat Maqbool son of Muhammad Mangloo of Cheigund Keegam, Shopian and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar son of Farooq Ahmad Wani of Heff Shirmal Shopian.
As per the police records, he said, both the militants were categorized and “involved” in several cases including attacks.
“Jazim Farooq alias Abrar was involved in case FIR No. 14/2023 under section 302, 307 IPC, 7/27Arms Act, 16, 18, 20 UAP Act of Police Station Litter pertaining to the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma,” he said.
Marifat Maqbool was involved in case FIR No 202/2022 under section 20, 38 ULA(P) Act of Police Station Shopian, he said .
“It is pertinent to mention that another (militant), Aqib Bhat of Malangpora Pulwama involved in killing of Sanjay Sharma was already killed in Padgampora encounter in the month of February 2023,” the spokesman said
The spokesperson said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, he said.
In this regard, he said, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress.
“ADGP Kashmir congratulated the joint team of Police and security forces for conducting a successful operation without any collateral damage and termed the operation as a big success,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said, people are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
Meanwhile, PRO Defence Srinagar said that on receipt of intelligence inputs from agencies about the presence of two Unidentified Terrorists in general area village Alishahpur, Shopian, a joint search operation was launched by the Indian Army and JKP on intervening night of 09/10 October 23.
“The area was cordoned by the security forces to carry out search. At around 01:00 AM the terrorists opened fire on the security forces which resulted in a fire fight. Two terrorists were neutralised during the operations. The slain terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq, both from LeT. It has also been learned from police sources that Jazim Farooq alias Abrar was involved in killing of Late Sanjay Sharma a Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama on 26 February this year. Two AK Series rifles, one pistol and other war like stores have been recovered,” he said, adding that “This has once again brought to fore the nefarious designs of Pakistan in supporting terrorists and trying to disrupt peace and development in Kashmir. The high level of synergy between security forces and intelligence agencies has once again proved to be very effective in elimination of terrorists in hinterland.”
