Suhail Khan
Srinagar : Two local militants were killed in an overnight gunfight with the government forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Thousands of people participated in the funeral of the duo, held separately in their native villages.
“Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Brath Kalan area of Sopore, a search operation was launched by Police and security forces jointly in the area yesterday evening,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
As the searches were going on, the joint team was fired upon by the hiding militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight, the spokesman said.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
They were identified as Owais Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Bakar son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat of Gund Brath Sopore and Tahir Ahmad Dar alias Abu Abdullah son of Mohammad Ramzan Dar resident of Saidpora Sopore. “Both were affiliated with LeT outfit,” the spokesman said.
Both the militants were wanted by the law for their complicity in militant activities including attack on security establishments, the spokesman said.
“Huge quantity of arms & ammunition including rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other militant cases,” the spokesman said, adding, “Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain militants in their respective native villages and were later laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans. “In the meantime, the youth took to streets and pelted stones on forces in many parts of Sopore. The forces deployed in these areas responded with tear smoke shells and pellets resulting in injuries to five youths”.
A complete shutdown was also observed in Sopore town and its adjacent areas to mourn the death of the militants. Internet services were also snapped in Sopore, the officials added. (GNS)
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