Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Jan 22: Two local militants were killed in a gunfight at Kilbal area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said Saturday.
A senior police officer said that based on based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in village Kilbal area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Ganderbal/Shopian Police, 34RR & 178Bn CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the official said.
The official said that in the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT (TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. “They have been identified as Sameer Ahmad Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah resident of Dhangam Shopian and Rayees Ahmad Mir son of Muhammad Ashraf Mir of Takiya, Wahgam Pulwama,” he said.
The official said that as per police records, both the killed militants were part of a group involved in several cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” the official said.
Pertinently, the year 2022 started with encounters and as per official figures, in the first 22 days of the ensuing year, seven foreigners were among 16 militants killed in nine encounters.
The slain includes top Lashkar-e-Toiba Saleem Parray. Srinagar district witnessed two encounters, Kulgam three, Kupwara, Pulwama, Budgam and Shopian one encounters each, figures state.
