Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 16: In a major success for security forces, two militants who were involved in a series of attacks in Srinagar including target killings, were killed in an encounter in Eidgah area of Srinagar today.
Acting on a specific lead about the presence of two militants in Saidapora, Eidgah area, police and CRPF cordoned off the area in the wee hours today.
Police said that when the joint teams zeroed in on the suspected house, the hiding militants fired at the forces triggering an encounter. The hiding militants were repeatedly asked to surrender, but they turned down the offers and instead fired at the security forces leading to a gun battle in which both were killed.
Police said both the slain were locals from Natipora area of Srinagar. The duo was identified as Irfan Ahmed Sofi and Bilal Ahmed, who had joined militancy on December 14, 2020.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that the duo was involved in three incidents that took place in June after which “we were tracking the movement of the duo.”
“We got a lead about them yesterday after which CRPF and police cordoned off the Eidgah area in Srinagar. We appealed to them to surrender but they refused after which an encounter took place in which both militants were killed,” he said. The duo was affiliated to LeT and had switched to ISJK.
Two CRPF men were also injured in the encounter who were identified as Bupinder Sharma of 21 Bn and Unis Ahmed of 73 Bn who have been hospitalised and are stable.
Kumar said with today’s operation, 78 militants have been killed this year so far in various encounters. “Of 78 total militants killed, 39 belonged to LeT followed by HM, Al-Badr, JeM and AuGH,” he said.
A police spokesman said that as per police records, both the killed militants were part of groups involved in several criminal cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. “Both the killed militants had been instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join militant folds in Srinagar and its adjoining areas,” the spokesman said.
As per police records, the duo was part of groups involved in attacks on police, security forces and civilians. “Both the killed terrorists executed a series of attacks on policemen, SFs and civilians which include killing of PSO of PDP leader at Natipora on 14/12/2020, ,attack on ROP of CRPF 73 Bn in Lawaypora resulting in martyrdom of 2 CRPF Jawans on 25/03/2021. Moreover, on 17/06/2021 they attacked & martyred an on-leave police official Ct Javid Ahmad near his residence at Saidpora and on 22/06/2021 attacked & martyred Inspector Parvez Ahmad at Menganwari Nowgam while he was on his way to offer prayers in local Masjid. They were also involved in the killing of a civilian Umer Nazir Bhat at his shop in Main Chowk Habba Kadal on 23.06.2021”, Police said.
“It is pertinent to mention here that they were also involved in a series of grenade attacks as well as petrol bomb attacks on Police/SF in City Srinagar. On 07.05.2021, they carried out a grenade attack on a joint party of Police/CRPF at Nawabazar area of Srinagar in which 5 CRPF jawans & a civilian got injured. On 26.06.2021, they carried out another grenade attack on a joint party of Police/CRPF at Barbarshah in which 1 civilian got killed and 3 civilians got critically injured. They also carried out a grenade attack on PP Urdu Bazar on 05.03.2021 and petrol bomb attack on a bunker of SSB at Mehjoor Nagar Band on 26.04.2021”, police said.
Police said that they were instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join militancy in Srinagar and its adjoining areas.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 pistol and 4 grenades were recovered from the site of encounter.”
Police today recovered a huge cache of explosive material and ammunition in Nawdal area of Tral in Awantipora Pulwama.
Police said that based on credible input, a joint team of Police, 42RR of Army and CRPF 180 Bn launched a search operation in Nawdal Tral area of Awanitpora.
“During search operation, huge cache of explosive material and ammunition including 7 51-MM motar shells, 260 Pika rounds and other incriminating materials have been recovered.
A case (FIR No. 87/2021 under relevant Sections of law) has been registered at Police Station Tral and further investigations are in progress.
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