2 Hizb militants involved in killing of trooper, civilians shot dead

Troops at the site of encounter at Anantnag on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar
Troops at the site of encounter at Anantnag on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar

Major tragedy averted, 35 kg IED recovered

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a gunfight at Poshkreeri village of Bijbehara area in Anantnag district today while a major tragedy was averted with the recovery of around 35 kilogramme Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

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Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that duo was involved in several militant crime cases which included the killing of TA solider and two civilians.
He identified the killed militants as Danish Bhat alias Kokab Duree resident of Jablipora Bijbehara and Basharat Nabi of of Fatehpora Anantnag. He said that they belonged to Hizb and were involved in the killing of a TA personnel Saleem on 9th April 2021 and killing of two civilians on 29th May 2021 in Jablipora area of South Kashmir.
A police spokesman said here that the operation against the militants was launched by a joint team of police, Army and CRPF in village Poshkreeri after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the security forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. He added that during exchange of fire, two militants were killed.
The spokesman said that both the killed militants were categorized militants and active since year 2019.
“Both the killed militants had a history of terror crime cases including attacks on police/security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, they were also involved in killing of two Territorial Army personnel namely Manzoor Ahmad at Sadoora Anantnag on 06/06/2019 and Mohammad Saleem at Bijbehara on 09/04/2021,” he said, adding that they were also involved in killing of two civilians on 29/05/2021 in Jablipora, Bijbehara area. He said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-56 rifle, 35 AK rounds, two AK magazines, one pistol, one pistol magazine and two pistol rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.
In the meantime, police today averted a major tragedy by recovering 35-35 Kg IED in orchards of Khonmoh area of Srinagar.
Police said that the security forces on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Khanmoh area of Srinagar launched a joint operation.
“During search of orchards area, an IED weighing 30-35Kgs was recovered. Bomb Disposal Squad was called on spot. The IED was destroyed,” he said.