Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 4: Two militants fled from an overnight encounter while a civilian was killed in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
Security forces cordoned off Khudpora area of district Shopian last evening after inputs about presence of militants hiding in the village. As the security forces conducted searches, militants tried to flee, leading to an encounter. Two militants fled from the area and one was killed, whose body was recovered last night.
Another body was recovered from the debris this morning and he has been identified as Shahid Manzoor Mir. The militant has been identified as Irfan Ahmad Bhat son of Ali Mohammad of Bandzoo, Pulwama, at present Gund Haadu, Memendar, Shopian.
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A police spokesman said that security forces in Khudpora area of district Shopian, launched a cordon and search operation yesterday evening based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area. As the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading, to an encounter.
“Meanwhile following the SOP, civilians from the nearby area were evacuated to safer places. In the ensuing encounter, hiding militants fired on security forces. Consequently post encounter during the search, two dead bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. The killed militant has been identified as Mohd Irfan Bhat of Pulwama who was associated with HM militant outfit since June 2017.The other one was identified as Shahid Mir, who as per the police records, was part of case FIR 201/2004 under Section 7/25 Arms Act of police station Shopian for militant related incident. A couple of militant managed to escape from the site as blood trails have been seen at the site”, the spokesman added.
“Moreover, the house where the encounter took place is intact albeit a hideout was found inside the house where militants were hiding. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter for ascertaining the facts pertaining to militants hiding in the said house and other related matters to this incident”, the spokesman said.
The family rejected the police claim and said that Shahid was civilian and police are deliberately trying to implicate him in a non-existent case. “Where was the police in last 14-years and why is it that when the civilian was killed that reference has been made to the case which according to police was registered 14-years ago,” the family said.
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