Jammu and Kashmir Police onSaturday said the militant killed in a gunfight with the security forces insouth Kashmir’s Shopian district last evening was affiliated withJaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) group.
Giving details, a policespokesman said that a cordon & search operation was launched jointly bypolice and security forces in Panduchan area of district following a credibleinput about the presence of militants.
“During the searchoperation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire wasretaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire one army soldieridentified as Sepoy Rambir Singh of 34 RR sustained gunshot injuries who wasevacuated to hospital for treatment however he succumbed to his injuries,” saidthe spokesman.
In the ensuing encounter, sofar body of one militant has been retrieved from the site of the encounter, hesaid, adding that the slain has been identified as Zeenat ul Islam Naikooresident of Memandar Shopian.
Zeenat, as per the policerecords, was affiliated with proscribed outfit JeM and was wanted by law forhis complicity in series of crimes including attack on security establishmentsand civilian atrocities, he said.
According to the policerecords, he was part of groups involved in planning & executing series of attacksin the area and many other civilian atrocities.
“Zeenat has a long historyof crime records and several crime cases were registered against him includingCase FIR No. 195/2018 pertaining to attack on P/S Shopian, Case FIR No.268/2019 pertaining to the abduction of one civilian namely Shakoor Ahmad, CaseFIR No. 281/2019 pertaining to the killing of 04 Policemen in Shopian, Case FIRNo. 304/2018 pertaining to arson and burning of Panchayat Ghar at Kanjiullar,Case FIR No. 318/2018 pertaining to the grenade attack on PS Shopian andkilling of one policeman, Case FIR No. 343/2018 pertaining to firing on ArmyCamp at Matribugh, Case FIR No. 344/2018 pertaining to firing on police camp atGagran, Case FIR No. 352/2018 pertaining to firing on patrol party of securityforces at Memandar, Case FIR No. 378/2018 pertaining to attack on PS Shopian,Case FIR No. 11/2019 pertaining to grenade attack and firing on police camp atGagran and Case FIR No. 45/2019 pertaining to the abduction and killing of onecivilian namely Tanveer Ahmad.”
The body of the slainmilitant has been handed over to the family members after completion ofmedico-legal formalities. “Incriminating material including arms &ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Search in the area isstill in progress,” he added further.