So Far 78 Militants This Year In Kashmir: IGP Kashmir
Srinagar : Two “most wanted” militants were killed and as many CRPF personnel were injured in a gunfight with police and paramilitary forces in Eidgah area of Srinagar, officials said on Friday.
A police spokesman said that acting on specific information about presence of militants, a joint cordon-and-search-operation was launched by police and paramilitary CRPF in Alamdar Colony Danmar Eidgah here.
During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained, he said, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender. “However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter in the wee hours.”
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two militants of “LeT (self claimed TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
They have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Sofi son of Nazir Ahmad Sofi and Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Natipora, Srinagar.
Officials sources told GNS that during the gunfight two CRPF personnel were also injured identified as SI Bupinder Sharma (25) of 21 battalion and constable Unish Ahmad Dar (35) of 73 battalion. Both were shifted to 92 base hospital for treatment, where their condition is said to be stable, they said.
Meanwhile, the police spokesman said the slain duo had been active since December 2020.
“It is pertinent to mention that recently self claimed (militant) outfit TRF shared on social media that Irfan and Bilal had left TRF and joined ISJK.”
As per police records, both the killed militants were part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police and security forces.
“They were involved in killing of PSO of PDP leader at Natipora on 14/12/2020, attack on ROP of CRPF 73BN in Lawaypora resulting in killing of 02 CRPF personnel on 25/03/2021, Moreover, on 17/06/2021 they attacked & killed an on-leave police official Ct Javid Ahmad near his residence at Saidpora and on 22/06/2021 attacked & killed Inspector Parvez Ahmad at Menganwari Nowgam while he was on his way to offer prayers in local Masjid.”
They were also involved in killing of a civilian Umer Nazir Bhat at his shop in Main Chowk Habba Kadal on 23 June 2021, the spokesman said.
“It is pertinent to mention that they were also involved in a series of grenade attacks as well as petrol bomb attacks on Police/SF in City Srinagar,” he said, adding, “On 07/05/2021, they carried out a grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Nawabazar area of Srinagar in which 05 CRPF personnel & a civilian got injured. On 26/06/2021, they carried out another grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Barbarshah in which one civilian got killed and three civilians got critically injured. They also carried out grenade attack on PP Urdu Bazar on 05/03/2021 and a petrol bomb attack on bunker of SSB at Mehjoor Nagar Band on 26/04/2021.”
The spokesman said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 pistol and 04 grenades were recovered from the site of encounter.
Meanwhile IGP Kashmir congratulates the joint forces of Police and CRPF for the “big success” that led to the killing of two most wanted militants.
IGP Kashmir also said that during the year 2021, so far 78 militants have been killed in Kashmir valley and most of them were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT i.e, 39 out of 78, followed by HM, Al-Badr, JeM and AuGH. (GNS)
