Amreen killing case solved in 24 hours: IGP
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 27: Police today said that they solved the murder case of TV artist Amreen Bhat in 24 hours by killing four newly recruited militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in two separate encounters in Awantipora, Pulwama and Srinagar including two who killed her.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that two newly recruited militants Shahid Mushtaq Bhat, resident of Hafroo, Chadoora Budgam and Farhan Habib, resident of Hakripora, Pulwama were killed in Awantipora, Pulwama encounter.
He said that the slain militants were involved in killing of TV artist Amreen Bhat and the attack was carried out on the instructions of LeT commander Lateef.
“Two newly recruited LeT militants from Shopian were killed in separate encounter in Soura area of Srinagar,” the IGP said. He added that 10 militants including three from JeM and seven from LeT were killed in last three days in Kashmir.
He said that heinous murder case of Amreen Bhat has been solved within 24 hours.
Police said that security forces neutralized four militants of LeT in twin anti-militancy operations in Awantipora and Srinagar. “The slain include two militants who were involved in the killing of TV artist Amreen Bhat,” police said.
A police spokesperson said that on a specific input generated by Awantipora police regarding presence of militants in village Aghanzipora area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 55 RR of Army and CRPF in the area.
“During the operation, as the joint search party was laying cordon around a cluster of houses, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two local militants identified as Shahid Mushtaq Bhat, resident of Hafroo Chadoora, Budgam and Farhan Habib resident of Hakripora, Pulwama linked with proscribed outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” the spokesman said.
The police spokesman said that Srinagar police developed an input about movement of militants from South Kashmir to Srinagar city and tracked their presence in Soura area of Srinagar, a special and small team of Srinagar police launched a cordon and search operation in the area.
“During the search, as the presence of militants was ascertained and search party proceeded towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the spokesman said. “In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They were identified as Shakir Ahmad Waza and Afreen Aftab Malik, both residents of Trenz, Shopian.”
The police said that both the killed militants were categorized and were part of groups involved in several crime cases including attacks on police and security forces.
“Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from both the sites of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the spokesman said.
In the meantime, militants managed to escape after a brief exchange of gunfire with security forces in Bandipora district today.
“After initial brief encounter during cordon and search operation in Gundpora, Rampora area of Bandipora, militants managed to escape from the spot. However, our team is chasing them. Further details shall follow,” Police said.
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