Srinagar: Two militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed in a gunfight in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday, police said.
“Acting on specific information generated by police regarding the presence of (militants) in Shitipora, Bijbehara Police, Army’s 3RR and CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militants) fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter.”
In the ensuing encounter, he said, two militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed. They have been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Ganie son of Farooq Ahmad Ganie of Shalgam Srigufwara and Yawar Ayub Dar son of Mohammad Ayub Dar of Dogripora Awantipora.
“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SF,” he said. Besides, he said, Yawar Ayub Dar was also involved in an attempt to murder attack on a GRP personnel at Railway Station Panzgam on 4 December 2021 and IED blast on CRPF bunker at Larmoo area on 2 May 2022.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter.”
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint forces for carrying out the operation in professional manner without any collateral damage, the spokesperson said. (GNS)