14 militants killed in 3 gunfights in district since Sunday
Srinagar: Five militants including the district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit were killed in yet another encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.
The encounter started place in Sudhoo Handhama village Wednesday morning and ended with the killing of five militants.
This was the third encounter in four days in which a total number of 14 militants have been killed in the district.
Giving details, a police spokesperson said that on a specific input by Shopian police regarding presence of militants in village Sugoo Handhama Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in said area.
During the search operation, the hiding militants, the police said, fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
The spokesperson said the identification and affiliation of the killed militants was being ascertained.
“However, as per credible sources the killed militants belonged Hizb and LeT. One of them is district commander of HM. Police and security forces conducted the operation professionally and no collateral damage occurred,” the spokesperson added.
“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” he added.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. In this connection a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated,” the spokesperson added.
He requested people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
