Umar Rashid
Anantnag, July 13 : Two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants were killed while as a woman were injured in an encounter that broke out between militants and forces in Srigufwara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that a joint team of Army’s 3 RR, Police and CRPF selaed a Srigufwara village following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
The hiding militants fired upon the search party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.
During the exchange of fire, two militants were killed and a lady sustained injuries near the gunfight site.
The official however said the identification of slain militants are yet to be assertained, while the injured woman was identified as Arifa Jan, daughter of Late Ghulam Mohammad, who is a government teacher by profession.
Police Version
Police in a statement issued to Kashmir Despatch said, 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.
