Four militants of Ansar Gazwatul Hind killed in Shopian
Srinagar, Jun 23 (UNI): Four militants, reportedly belonging to Ansar Gazwatul Hind, were killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian on Sunday, a police spokesman said.
Mobile internet in Shopian has been suspended.
He said acting on a tip-off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint CASO at Panzar village, Keegam, in Shopian early this morning .
When the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons.
The spokesman said the slain militants have been identified as Rafi Hassan Mir of Kralchak Shopian, Suhail Ahmad Bhat of Batmuran Shopian, Showkat Ahmad Mir of Rajpora Pulwama and Azad Ahmad Khanday of Bamnoo Pulwama.
Among the four killed militants, Showkat had a long history of militancy records since 2015. He was initially part of the proscribed outfit Hizbul Mujahieen (HM). However, the spokesman did not said anything about Ansar Gazwatul Hind, the outfit they were a part of in the end.
Spokesman said Showkat, according to police records, was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of attacks on security establishments and civilians.
Several cases were registered against him including an incident pertaining to firing on a guard post at Sheikhard, another pertaining to the lobbing of grenade on security forces, and one relating to firing on civilians- Bashir Ahmad Dar and Altaf Ahmad at Qasabyar in which Bashir Dar succumbed and Altaf was seriously injured.
A case of civilian atrocities and killing of a policeman, Sameer Ahmad were also registered.
He said Showkat was instrumental in the recruitment of Azad Ahmad, Rafi Hassan & Suhail Ahmad, who had recently joined militancy.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of the encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crime cases.
People have been requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosives materials, if any.
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