Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 26: A militant of Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) was killed and two others fled during a gun battle in forests of Branpathri in Kahlil Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
Security forces including Army’s 42 RR, CRPF and SOG cordoned off Branpathri forest area in Tral after specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area in a hideout.
During searches of the area, the hiding militants fired upon security forces and troops retaliated leading to a gun battle. In the exchange of fire, a militant was killed and dead body was recovered. He has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Malik from Nagbal Tral. Two other militants fled away as the security forces were laying cordon. The hideout in which militants were hiding was busted by the security forces.
Police said that as per the police records, he was initially affiliated with LeT and later had become part of Zakir Musa group.
“Shabir, as per police records, was wanted by law for his complicity in several terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. He was part of groups responsible for planning and executing terror attacks in the area”, he said.
“Several terror crime cases were registered against him including case FIR No. 43/15 of Police Station Trikuta Nagar pertaining to the planning and making preparations for carrying out terror attacks in Jammu”, police said.
They said that with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation. “No collateral damage happened during the encounter”, they added.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crime cases”, police said.
The internet services were snapped in the Awantipora to prevent any violence.
Meanwhile, clashes have also erupted between protesters and security forces in Tral town.
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