Two HizbulMujahideen militants and a civilian, whom police described as an “associate” were killed during a 10-hour-long gun battle with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.
A police official told Greater Kashmir that the civilianJasim Ahmad Shah of Malnar, Shopain, was not on the regular “militantlist” of the police, but he had signed up for the group some 24 hoursback. Local residents, however, refuted the police claims.
The two slain militants were identified as AbidManzoorMagrayalias Sajju Tiger of NawporaPayeen, Pulwama, and Bilal Ahmad Bhat ofArmullaLassipora, Pulwama.
While Abid had joined militancy on October 1, 2016, Bilaltook up arms on September 24, 2017.
A police official said that teams of army, police and CRPFsurrounded orchards in Dragad area, some 14 kms from Shopian town in the weehours. He said that at around 4 am militants hiding in the area opened fire onthe forces, triggering an encounter.
The official said the operation was called off ataround 2.30 pm and three bodies wereretrieved.
A police spokesperson in a statement issued later in the daysaid that “two listed militants along with other one who was part of thisgroup were killed.”
“Jasim, as per records and inputs available with thepolice coupled with the family version was missing since yesterday and was partof this group,” the police spokesperson said.
Local residents however said that Jasim was a civilian andnot part of any militant group.
As the encounter was in progress, youths rushed towards thegun battle site and threw stones on the security forces, another policeofficial said.
He said that forces fired pellets and tear smoke shells.
A health official at district hospital Shopian said that aninjured youth with pellet injuries was received at the facility.