Bodies of slain handed over to families; thousands attend their funeral
Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, June 14 : Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in a gunfight at Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.
Reports reaching said that a joint team of army’s 55 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon at Braw Bandina area of Awantipora today morning.
A police spokesman said that the cordon-and-search operation was launched in the area following credible inputs.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter along with AK-47 and one pistol,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman identified the slain as Irfan Ahmad Degu @Abu Zarar of Naina Litter Pulwama and Tasaduk Amin Shah of Kadlabal Pampore.
“Both the slain as per police records were affiliated with LeT and were wanted by law for their complicity in attacks including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” the spokesman said.
“According to police records, Irfan was part of groups involved in planning and executing series of militant attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. He was involved in case FIR No 35 of 2018 pertaining to attack on security forces in Ellahibagh Pulwama in which one jawan also lost his life. Tasaduk as per the police records was involved in Case FIR No 27/2019 of Police Station Pantha Chowk pertaining to killing of civilian. Several crime cases were registered against them,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, after conducting all legal formalities the bodies of the slain were handed over to their respective families for last rites. In the meantime, thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain at their native places and were later buried amid pro-freedom slogans. (GNS)
