Srinagar, April 06 (KNO) : An M.Tech student was among the two militants who were killed a brief but fierce shoot-out with the forces at Imam Sahab area of Shopian South Kashmir on Saturday, police said. It said that acting on a specific tip-off, Imam Sahab area was sealed by the forces including army, police and paramilitary CRPF while as the militants hiding in a residential house opened fire during the search, triggering off an encounter. The cordon was laid by army's 44RR, CRPF and police launched cordon and search operation in the area.
“The militants opened a heavy volume of fire at the forces and in the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed,” police said. Additional Director General of Police Law and order, Security, Munir Khan said that two militants were killed and their identities were being ascertained.
However, police sources said that one of the two slain militants was identified as M.Tech student from Nunner area of Ganderbal district, Rahil Rashid Sheikh. Rahil had joined militancy in April this year. The second militant was identified as Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Keegam, Shopian. “Both the slain militants were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit,” said police sources. .
Soon after the encounter ended, groups of youth resorted to heavy stone pelting on the forces triggering massive clashes. Witnesses said that forces fired in air to disperse the angry protestors. In Keegam, the native village of slain Bilal, thousands of mourners were waiting for his body amid wails and sobs, the witnesses said.(KNO)