Srinagar: Two militants were killed in an encounter with a joint team of police and army at Dooru area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, an official said. Meanwhile an overnight encounter at Shopian ended this morning with a civilian injured overnight succumbing to his wounds and militants escaping.
A senior police officer told to GNS a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in the area amid inputs about the presence of the militants.
As the joint team of the forces zeroed towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired on them, which was retaliated, triggering off the gunfight in which two militants were killed.
“This encounter is important in 2 aspects: 1st, it is the same group of (militants) who escaped from Watnad encounter on 16/4/22 in which we lost 1 soldier,” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, adding, “2nd, encounter site is very close to (national highway) & imminent threat to NHW & Yatra neutralized.”
Meanwhile regarding Shopian encounter, police said that based on specific input about presence of militants in Pandoshan area of the south Kashmir district, a joint cordon and search operation was launched on (Monday) evening by police and Army in the area.
“As the joint team was establishing the cordon around the area, the hiding (militants) started indiscriminate firing upon the search party,” a police spokesperson said, adding, “In order to save the civilians present in the area, the joint team while exercising maximum restraint started evacuating them.” However, he said, during evacuation process, the hiding militants targeted the civilians as well as the joint team in a bid to escape. “Although, the civilians were evacuated to safer place however, due to heavy firing by (militants), one soldier Lance Naik Sanjib Das and two civilians namely Shahid Gani Dar and Suhaib Ahmad received gunshot injuries.”
All the injured were immediately airlifted to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar for treatment, he said. However, he said, civilian Shahid Gani Dar succumbed to his injuries while as the other injured civilian, Suhaib Ahmad and Lance Naik Sanjib Das are under treatment. “After all medico-legal formalities dead body has been handed over to the family for last rite.”
Taking advantage of the darkness and civilian presence, he said, the militants managed to escape from the site of encounter. “Efforts are on to track the (militants).”
IGP Kashmir said that it has been observed in some encounters recently in Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts that Pakistani militants started firing on civilians and security forces while laying initial cordon to escape from cordon. “In some of such encounters (militants) managed to escape from cordon but we have lost precious lives of civilians and security forces. We are trying bring some change in our tactical SOPs.” (GNS)
