The death toll in the 40-hour-long anti-militancy operation at Pandoshan village, here in south Kashmir mounted to four on Saturday after security forces recovered two more bodies. One of a militant and another of a non-local labourer.
A police official told Greater Kashmir that the bodies wererecovered from the debris of the house where a gun battle between militants andforces took place on Friday. A militant and soldier were killed during theinitial stage of fire fight yesterday while a soldier had sustained bulletinjuries.
The slain militants were identified as Zeenat-Ul-IslamNaikoo of Meemender, Shopian and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Wachi, while thenon-local labourer was identified as Muhammad Moazim son of Muhammad Akhtar ofSaupaul district, Bihar.
The official said that Naikoo was associated withJaish-e-Muhammad militant group while Bhat belonged to HizbulMujahideen. He said that the operation was called off onlate Saturday afternoon.
According to local residents at least 10 structures,including 3 residential houses, two shops, four cow sheds and an apple storewere destroyed during the operation.
Eye witnesses told Greater Kashmir that multiple rounds offuneral were held for the slain militants before they were laid to rest intheir respective ancestral graveyards.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said, “Manzoor Ahmed Bhat as perpolice records was wanted by law for his complicity in series of militancyrelated incidents including attack on security establishments and civilianatrocities.”
“According to the police records, killed militant was partof group involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area.Several cases were registered against him including case FIR No. 25/2019 of P/SZainapora pertaining to killing of a civilian namely Irfan Hameed Lone.Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from thesite of encounter. People are requestedto cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared ofall the explosive materials if any,” the spokesman added.