Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said the two militantskilled in a gunfight with the security forces in Bijbehara area of Anantnagdistrict were affiliated with JeM.
“On a credible input, a cordon & search operation waslaunched jointly by police and security forces at Marhama in Bijbehara area ofDistrict Anantnag,” said a spokesman.
He said as the search operation was going on, the hidingmilitants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to anencounter, he said.
In the exchange of fire with the militants, one Army manAnil Jaswal sustained gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to the hospital wherehe succumbed, said the spokesman.
“In the ensuing encounter, 02 militants were killed and thebodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed militants have been identified asSajad Ahmad Bhat and Tawseef Ahmad Bhat both residents of Marhama, Bijbehara.”
As per the records available with the police, both thekilled militants were affiliated with proscribed outfit JeM and were wanted bylaw for their complicity in a series of crimes including attacks on securityestablishments and civilian atrocities, he said.
According to the police records, Sajad was wanted inLethpora blast in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed earlier this year.
“As per the material evidence collected during the course ofinvestigation it was learnt that Maruti Eco vehicle used for carrying out theblast in Lethpora was owned by one Sajad Bhat of Marhama. As the news ofSajad’s involvement spread, he escaped and joined proscribed outfit JeM,” saidthe spokesman.
“A picture of Sajad carrying AK-47 rifle was also circulatedon social media announcing his joining the outfit. Pertinently Tawseef played akey role in recruiting of Sajad to the militant ranks,” he added.
“Both of them were part of groups involved in planning andexecuting series of attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registeredagainst them. Some of the crime cases registered against Sajad include case FIRNo 16/2018 and case FIR No 28/2019 pertaining to Lethpora attack. Casesregistered against Tawseef include case FIR No 95/2018.”