Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday that two militants were killed in a pre-dawn encounter in Srinagar’s Zakura area.
Talking to reporters here, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir said that acting on a specific lead late evening yesterday about the presence of two militants in Zakura area of Srinagar, police laid a siege in the area and after zeroing in on the spot, the hiding militants opened fire that was retaliated.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT (TRF) were killed. They were identified as Ikhlaq Hajam of Kulgam and Adil from Pulwama district. Ikhlaq was involved in the killing of Police head constable at Bijbehera on January 29,” the IGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He said since the past few years, South Kashmir based militants keep travelling to Srinagar. “We track them on the basis of human and technical intelligence after which they are either arrested or killed,” the IGP said.
About the arrest of Fahad Shah, he said that there are three FIRs registered against him—one each in Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian districts. “He has been arrested in connection with the FIR in Pulwama where he has been charged for glorifying militancy. He was time and again warned not to spread fake news and not to glorify militants and militancy as the move lures young boys towards militancy, but he didn’t stop,” the IGP said and urged journalists to crosscheck the news before circulating the same.
A police spokesman in a statement to KNO said that based on a specific input generated by police regarding presence of militants in Rangpora, Zakura area of Srinagar, a cordon and search operation was launched by Srinagar Police.
“During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said, adding that “In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Ikhlaq Ahmad Hajam son of Ab Ahad Hajam resident of Kujer Frisal Kulgam and Adil Nisar Dar son of Nisar Ahmad resident of Malangpora Pulwama, both linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF).”
The spokesman said that as per police records, killed militants Ikhlaq Ahmad was active since June-2021 and Adil Nisar was active since August-2021.
“Both the killed militants were categorized militants and part of groups involved in several crime cases including attack on Police/SF and civilian atrocities. Besides, they were also instrumental in motivating the gullible youth to join militancy folds and reviving the OGW network,” the spokesman said. “Slain militant Ikhlaq was the mastermind behind the recent killing of HC Ali Mohammad at Hasanpora Anantnag on 29/1/22. He was also involved in an IED blast on Qaimoh-Yaripora road on 18/01/2022.”
Police said that arms and ammunition including two pistols and five hand grenades were recovered from the site of encounter.
