Suhail Khan/Lone Showkat
Srinagar, Dec 24: A Top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad was among two militants who were killed in a gunfight at Wanigam Payeen area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that Sopore’s known footballer was among the two militants who were killed in a daylong gunfight in Kreeri village.
The officer said Abrar alias Langoo from Pakistan and Amir Siraj from Sopore were the slain militants in the gunfight.
Amir had gone missing on 24th June this year and was said to be an ace footballer.
He said following specific inputs about the presence of militants in Wanigam Payeen area of Kreeri a joint team of Army’s 29 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.
He said once searching team encircled the target house the hidding militants fired upon them, thus triggering a gunfight.
The officer further added that in the initial stage there were brief exchange of gunfire between two sides, and after gap of 8 hours firing was again resumed and in the end two militants were slain.
Meanwhile, police in a statement issued to Kashmir Despatch said that the militants were hiding in the house of one Mehraj-ud-din Wani and that they were given opportunity to surrender. “However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.
As per police records, both the killed militants were involved in several crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” the police statement said.
