3 militants killed in Awantipora gunfight

Three HizbulMujahideen militants were killed during a gunfight with security forces in Panzgam village of Awantipora police district during Friday night.

The deceased were identified as Showkat Ahmad Dar ofPanzgamAwantipora; Irfan Ahmad War of Sopore in Baramulla district and MuzaffarAhmad Sheikh of Tahab, Pulwama. 

   

Showkat had been active since September 2016 and his twoassociates had joined the militant outfit recently.

One residential house also damaged during the gunfight.

An army official said following a tip-off, a joint team ofArmy’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force and Police cordonedoff Panzgam village during Friday night and launched searches.

“The search operation turned into a gunfight after themilitants holed up inside the residential house opened fire on the securityforces,” he said.

A police officer posted in south Kashmir told GreaterKashmir: “We have recovered three dead bodies of Hizb militants. Some weaponsand other incriminating material were also recovered from the gunfight site.”

Panzgam residents said they spent the night sleeplessbecause the firing continued for most part of the night.

A top police officer said it was a “clean operation” inwhich no collateral damage took place.

As soon as the news about the encounter broke out in thearea, a group of youth pelted the security forces with stones. The forces firedtear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.

On Saturday, thousands of people participated in the lastrites of the slain militants in their native villages. After multiple funeralprayers, the deceased were laid to rest.

Scores of mourners from various areas started arriving inTahab, Pulwama and Panzgam areas for a last glimpse of the militants.

Local youths and security forces clashed with each other atTahab after Muzaffar was laid to rest. The clashes were on when this report wasfiled. A complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama and Awantipora townships.

Authorities also snapped Internet service in Awantipora andPulwama police districts as a “precautionary measure”.

In a statement, the police said the militants were wanted bylaw for their complicity “in a series of terror crimes including attack onsecurity establishments and civilian atrocities”.

“Several terror crime cases were registered against them,”the statement said.

“As per police records Showkat Dar had a long history ofterror crime records. He was involved in planning and executing series ofterror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. He was part of agroup involved in killing of army jawan Aurangzeb last year. He was alsoinvolved in killing of policeman Aqib Ahmad Wagay last year. Several terrorcrime cases were registered against him,” the statement reads.

“Irfan War was part of terror groups responsible forconspiring and executing attacks on security establishments and civilianatrocities in the area. Accordingly terror crime cases were registered againsthim. Similarly, Muzafar Sheikh as per police records was also involved inseveral terror attacks on security establishments in the area. Several criminalcases were registered against him for terrorist activities,” the statementsaid.

“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition wererecovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and allthese materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose ofinvestigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes,” it added.

The statement said: “Citizens are requested not to ventureinside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to strayexplosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till thearea is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials ifany.”

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