Srinagar: Two newly recruited militants of Al-Badr outfit were killed in a gunfight that raged between forces and militants in Kutpora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday.
A senior police officer told a local news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that on a credible input joint team of Police, Army’s 34 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an gunfight.
After initial exchange of fire, when it was found that the trapped militants are locals, they were repeatedly asked to surrender by forces as well as by their parents. However, they turned down repeated surrender offers and fired upon forces, which was retaliated and in the ensuing gunfight both were killed.
The official identified the slain as Irfan Ahmad Thoker son of Mohammed Ishaq Thoker who was missing from last three months and Umar Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone who was missing from last five days, both residents of Kutpora, Shopian
He added that slain were involved in recent bank robbery incident at Shopian in which over Rs 60 lakh rupees were decamped from J-K Cash Van.
Meanwhile, internet services which were snapped soon after gunfight broke out in Shopian district have been restored. A police spokesman in a statement said that keeping in view the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of slain militants shall to be sent to Baramulla for their burial and last rites after completion of legal and medical formalities. “The nearest family members of the slain militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla,” the spokesman said, adding that the people are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all explosive materials—(KNO)
