Anantnag, July 13 (KNO): Two militants affiliated with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) were killed while as a woman received bullet injuries in an encounter that raged between militants and forces in Viddy Srigufwara area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday morning.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army’s 3 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.
During the exchange of fire, two militants were killed and a woman living near the encounter site received bullet injuries, he said, adding that one militant is said to be local while the other is a foreigner.
He identified the injured woman as Arifa Jan, daughter of Late Ghulam Mohammad, who is a government teacher by profession.
Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Jeelani told KNO they have received a lady with bullet injuries on Monday morning. He said that the condition of the injured lady is stable.
Pertinently, 130 local as well as non-local militants including some top commanders like Riyaz Naikoo of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Qari Yasir of JeM, Hyder of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Burhan Koka of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind in this year so far.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the internet services have been snapped in Anantnag district
Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Police spokesman said that on specific inputs generated by Anantnag Police regarding presence of militants in Srigufwara area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by JKP, 03 RR and CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the indiscriminate firing by militants, one woman received gunshot injuries. She was shifted to hospital for treatment where her condition is stated to be stable.
In the ensuing encounter, two militants affiliated with JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. One of the slain militants has been identified as Nasir alias Shahbaz alias Baz Bai, a Pakistan resident, ‘A’ category militant, while as the identification of the other slain militant is being ascertained.
“Arms and ammunition and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Search in the area is in progress,” police said.
Keeping in view present COVID situation, the dead bodies of the slain militants shall be sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA. “In case any family claims the slain militant to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla,” police said.
In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station and investigation has been initiated, police said, while appealing people to cooperate with them till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any—(KNO)