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Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, Jan 3 (GNS): Three militants were killed and as many soldiers injured in a gunfight with government forces at forest area of Gulshanpora Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.
“Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in higher reaches of Tral, a cordon and search operation was launched today morning jointly by Police and security forces in the area,” a police officer said.
As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight, he said.
In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and the bodies were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.
The slain militants have been identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Huraira son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat resident of Chursoo Awantipora, Shakoor Ahmad Parray alias Jaffar son of Ghulam Nabi Parray of Laribal Tral and Tawseef Ahmad Thoker alias Abu Talha son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-deen Thoker of Chursoo Bunpora Awantipora.
All the three killed militants were wanted by law for attacks on security establishments and “civilian atrocities.”
“It was a combined group of JeM and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,” he said, adding that according to records Zubair was affiliated with JeM while Shakoor and Tawseef were affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
“Pertinently no collateral damage took place during the encounter,” the officer said, adding, “Police has registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.”
Regarding the injured army personnel, he said, they were taken to army’s 92 base hospital Srinagar where from one critically wounded soldier Sepoy Nehminlan Haokip of 42 Rashtriay Rifles was airlifted to army’s command hospital Udhampur for advanced treatment, he said. A defence ministry official here said that the soldier was under treatment in the hospital.
Meanwhile, following the gunfight, the youth took to streets and pelted stones on forces leading to clashes at some distance from the encounter site in which thirteen persons have reportedly suffered pellet injuries.
Meanwhile, sources said that the joint team of forces destroyed the hideout by blasting it so as to prevent people from visiting the spot. Recently, the police officer said that many people visited militant hideouts after being busted by the government forces. The internet in the district was also suspended. (GNS)
