3 militants, army man killed in twin encounters in Kulgam, Tral

Srinagar: Three militants and a soldiers were killed while two troopers were injured in two different encounters in South Kashmir’s Kulgam and Tral township. Two militants and a soldier died in Kulgam while a militant was killed in Rishipora Tral area of Pulwama district. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of slain militant in their native villages later in the day.
Divulging information about Redwani Kulgam encounter, a police spokesperson said that based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Redwani, a cordon and search operation was launched in the midnight jointly by Police and government forces in the area.
“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight. In the initial exchange of fire, one soldier Prakash Yadav of 1st Rashtriya Rifles sustained injuries. He was evacuated to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries. Besides, two troopers sub-inspector Amit Kumar and Constable Avnish of 163 Battalion CRPF sustained minor injuries in the encounter,” he said.
In the ensuing encounter, two militants were neutralized and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.”
The house in which militants were trapped belonged to one Muhammad Ayoub Dar. The house was blasted by Forces as a result it was completely damaged.
The police official identified as Ajaz Ahmad Makroo son of Late Ghulam Rasool Makroo resident of Qaimoh and Waris Ahmad Malik son of Bashir Ahmad resident of Arwani.
The official said that as per police records both the killed militants were affiliated with militant outfit LeT and were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of militancy related incidents.
Ajaz Ahmed Makroo was active from 2017. He was a close associate of militant commanders Naveed Jat and slain Azad Ahmed Malik alias Dada. “Several cases were registered against Ajaz and the prominent among them include FIR No. 60/2016, FIR No. 45/2017, FIR No. 100/2017, FIR No. 10/2018, FIR No. 13/2018 registered at Police Station Kulgam. Similarly, Waris was also figured in several militancy related cases.”
Moreover, the militant killed in encounter in Hafoo Reshipora Tral has been identified as Shakir Hassan Dar son of Ghulam Hassan Dar resident of Rathsuna Tral. “He was a part of Zakir Musa group of militants and was active since 2015.
“Two Residential houses, a cowshed and a bathroom were damaged during the encounter that was being jointly conducted by 42 RR of Indian Army, SOG of Jammu Kashmir Police and 180 CRPF,” eyewitnesses said.
“Police has separately registered a case in both encounters. Huge quantity of arms & ammunition including rifles were recovered from the encounter sites at Tral and Kulgam. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other terror cases.”
Mobile internet and rail services were suspended throughout south Kashmir in wake of the killing of militants.Several youths were injured after clashes erupted near the gunfight site in Redwani Bala and Rishpora Tral. Reports said that youth started throwing stones at forces to disrupt the operation and help the militants escape from the area. However, government forces retaliated with pellets and teargas shells at the protesters to chase them away. Thousands of mourners participated in the last rites of these slain militants.