Srinagar, Jan 26: Two militants were shot dead by the government forces during a gunfight in Khonmoh area located on the outskirts of Srinagar on Saturday.
A police spokesperson said that two militants were killed in the gunfight that broke out in the morning after the forces launched a search operation in the area.
“Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Khonmoh area of District Srinagar, a cordon and search operation was launched Saturday morning jointly by police and security forces in the area,” the spokesperson said.
As the searches were going on, he added, the search party was fired upon by the militants.
The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight.
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained,” the spokesperson added.
However, unconfirmed reports identified one of the two slain militants as Saqib Shafi Dar son of Muhammad Shafi Dar resident of Arihal Pulwama.
The second, reports said, was believed to be a foreigner.
As per official sources, Saqib was active for the last five months with JeM.
The gunfight also left a couple of forces personnel wounded. With the killing of these two militants, this month the toll has touched to 15.
Quoting a senior police officer, news agency GNS said that two AK- 47 rifles and lot of ammunition was recovered from the possession of the slain militant.
“They were planning to sabotage R-day functions,” the news agency quoted the officer saying.
Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.
“Citizens are requested not to venture inside encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” the police spokesperson said.
