SRINAGAR – Two militants of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) and Lashker-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with joint team of police and army at Tral area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, officials said.
“Based on a specific input generated by Ganderbal Police regarding presence of (militants) in Tral area of Awantipora, a raid was conducted by Police in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. .
“During the raid as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militants) fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing encounter, one (militant) was neutralized and another was holed up.” Meanwhile, he said, reinforcement of Army’s 42RR and 180 battalion CRPF reached the encounter site and joined the operation. “The joint team later neutralized the second holed up (militant) and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.” They have been identified as Umar Nabi Teli alias Talha son of Ghulam Nabi Teli of Ladoo Khrew and Shafat Muzaffar Sofi alias Muavia son of Muzaffar Ahmad Sofi of Batagund Tral.
“As per police records, both the killed (militants) were categorized (militants) and linked with proscribed terror outfits AuGH and LeT and involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SF and civilian atrocities,” he said, adding, “Before shifting to Tral area, both the killed (militants) were involved in several crimes in Srinagar city including recent killing of Sarpanch (Sameer Ahmad) in Khanmoh Srinagar”.
Besides, he said, Sofi was also involved in grenade throwing on CRPF Camp on 19 March 2022 and case FIR No. 09/2021 of PS Tral regarding recovery of IED material. Moreover, he said, both the militants were attempting to revive the militancy “by being instrumental in motivating gullible youth to join (militant) folds.”
He said incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”
