Two militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at Awneera village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday.
The slain militants were identified as Shakir Ahmad Wagay ofAwneera, Shopian and Sayar Ahmad Bhat of MonchwaYaripora, Kulgam. Both Shakirand Sayar had joined militant ranks in January and March this year.
A police official told Greater Kashmir that a joint team ofArmy, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu andKashmir Police surrounded Awneera, a sleepy hamlet tucked away in theapple orchards on the tail-end of the Shopian district, and started a searchoperation.
The operation, according to the official, was launched ataround 2 am after the forces received “definite information” aboutthe presence of militants in the area.
“As the forces neared the suspected spot, the militantspresent there opened fire on them,” the official said, adding that thefire was immediately returned, leading to an encounter.
The fire fight, the official said, continued for some timeand finally ended with the killing of two militants. The bodies of both theslain militants were later handed over to their families.
FUNERAL
After the bodies of slain militants were handed over totheir families, mourners started trickling into their native places. Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that multiple funeral prayers were held for boththe militants. “They were laterinterred in their ancestral grave yards” the witnesses added.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, authorities blockedcellular internet service in the entire Shopian district.
POLICE VERSION
A police spokesman in a statement said that “as per policerecords both the killed militants were inspired by IS ideology. They werewanted by law for their complicity in militancy related incidents includingattack on security establishments.”
“According to the police records, they were part of groupsinvolved in planning and executing militant attacks in the area and many othercivilian atrocities. ShakirWagay,according to police records, was involved in Case FIR No 25/2019 pertaining tothe killing of civilian Irfan Hameed Sheikh of Zainapora. Many cases wereregistered against both of them,” the spokesman said.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition wererecovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken inthe case records for the purpose of investigation and to probe their complicityin other incidents,” the spokesman added.