Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said the militant slainin a brief gunfight with the security forces in southern Shopian district wasinvolved in Safa Kadal and Soura grenade attacks.
Giving details of the gunfight, a police spokesman said thata cordon & search operation was launched today morning at Ram Nagri area ofHerpora in District Shopian following inputs about the presence of militants.
During the search operation, the hiding militants fired onthe search party, he said, adding that the fire was retaliated, leading to abrief exchange of fire.
In the brief exchange of fire, one militant, identified asIshfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar son of Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Model Town-B,Sopore, was killed.
Ishfaq, he said, had a long history of crime records and wasinitially affiliated with proscribed outfit HuM. “He along with his associateswere involved in series of crimes including grenade attacks on CRPF bunker atSafa Kadal, Soura and Police Station Khanyar. He was also part of groups whichhad carried out attacks on security establishments in the area,” said thespokesman.
Ishfaq was subsequently arrested and after his release onbail, he again got recycled and joined the militant ranks last year in 2018.
“Ishfaq, as per the police records, after getting recycledagain got involved in planning and executing attacks. He was also involved inattacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities,” saidthe spokesman.
Incriminating material including arms & ammunition hasbeen recovered from his possession.