Srinagar: Two militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Alamdar Colony, Danmar area of Srinagar on Friday, police said.
A police spokesman, in a statement, said that the gunfight broke out today morning after the police and CRPF launched a joint CASO in Alamdar Colony following a specific information generated by the Srinagar police.
“During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given repeated opportunities to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter in the wee hours,” he said.
In the ensuing encounter, two militants affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT (self claimed TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. They have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Sofi son of Nazir Ahmad Sofi and Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Natipora, Srinagar and active since Dec-2020.
“It is pertinent to mention that recently self claimed terrorist outfit TRF shared on social media that terrorists Irfan & Bilal had left TRF and joined ISJK,” said the spokesman, as per the statement.
As per police records, both the slain were part of groups involved in several crimes cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. “Both the killed terrorists executed a series of attacks on policemen, SFs and civilians which include killing of PSO of PDP leader at Natipora on 14/12/2020, attack on ROP of CRPF 73BN in Lawaypora resulting in martyrdom of 02 CRPF Jawans on 25/03/2021, Moreover, on 17/06/2021 they attacked & martyred an on-leave police official Ct Javid Ahmad near his residence at Saidpora and on 22/06/2021 attacked & martyred Inspector Parvez Ahmad at Menganwari Nowgam while he was on his way to offer prayers in local Masjid. They were also involved in killing of a civilian Umer Nazir Bhat at his shop in Main Chowk Habba Kadal on 23/06/2021,” he said.
They were also involved in a series of grenade attacks as well as petrol bomb attacks on Police/SF in City Srinagar. “On 07/05/2021, they carried out a grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Nawabazar area of Srinagar in which 05 CRPF jawans & a civilian got injured. On 26/06/2021, they carried out another grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Barbarshah in which 01 civilian got killed and 03 civilians got critically injured. They also carried out grenade attack on PP Urdu Bazar on 05/03/2021 and petrol bomb attack on bunker of SSB at Mehjoor Nagar Band on 26/04/2021,” said the spokesman.
The slain, he added, were instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join militant ranks in Srinagar and its adjoining areas.
“Incriminating materials arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 pistol and 04 grenades were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.”
“IGP Kashmir congratulates the joint forces of Police and CRPF for the big success that led to the elimination of two most wanted terrorists who were wanted by the law for their involvement in several terror crime cases.”
In this connection, Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any.
IGP Kashmir also said that during the year 2021, so far 78 militants have been killed in Kashmir valley and most of them were affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT i.e, 39 out of 78, followed by HM, Al-Badr, JeM & AuGH.