Anantnag, March 11 (KNO): Two local Jiash-e-Muhammad militants were killed in a 16-hour -long encounter between security forces and militants in Krandigam village of Bijbehara belt in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday.
A senior police officer told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) militants turned down repeated surrender offers from the security forces and in the ensuing gunfight two militants were killed.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here said that on Wednesday at about 6:05 pm, based on specific input generated by Anantnag police regarding presence of militants in village Kandipora, Bijbehara area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (3 RR) and CRPF.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the police spokesman said.
He said that due to darkness the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout night, and on Thursday morning, repeated announcements were again made to hiding militants to surrender, but the militants fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated resulting in the elimination of two militants.
The slain duo have been identified as Adil Ahmad Bhat, resident of Shithpora , Bijbehara and Zahid Ahmad Rather, resident of Sirhama, Anantnag. Both were affiliated with militant outfit JeM.
“As per police records, both the killed militants were involved in several crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities,” he said.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other crimes,” he added.
The last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in their last rites, the police spokesman said.
In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated, he said.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, he said—(KNO)