Militant killed in Budgam gunfight

A local militant of Jaish-e-Muhammad was killed in a 20-hour long encounter with security forces in Chrar-i-Sharif Budgam on Tuesday.

The slain militant has been identified by police as Asif Muzaffar Shah of Dar Mohalla Samboora Pampore. Police said Asif had joined militant ranks last month.

   

“We had information of the presence of at least three militants,” a police official said. “Probably his two associates managed to escape.” He said efforts were on to track them.

The gunfight started on late Monday afternoon and ended on Tuesday afternoon. During the gunfight the residential house where the militant had taken shelter and a medical shop were totally damaged. The body of the slain militant was recovered after clearance of debris with the help of a bulldozer. Earlier in the morning fire tenders were pressed into service for dousing the fire in the house.

Police said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Nowhard Chrar-i-Sharif area of Budgam, a cordon and search operation was launched by Budgam Police, army’s 53RR and CRPF.

During the search operation, police said, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however instead they started firing and threw grenades on the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. One army personnel of 53RR received

splinter injuries who was shifted to hospital.

In the ensuing encounter, police said one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter.

PRO Defence said in a statement. “One militant killed, one pistol recovered.”

Police took the body of the militant and buried it in north Kashmir’s Handwara. Of late, police have been denying the bodies of the militants to their families as their funerals attracted large crowds.

This was the second encounter in Budgam during the last fortnight. Earlier a militant was killed in Kawoosa area of the district.

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