Shopian: A militant and his associate were killed in a brief shoot-out when they were travelling in a vehicle at Mulu, Chitragam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday, police said. An official while talking to KNO identified the slain as Firdous Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohammad Jamal Bhat, residents of Ponewa, Kulgam and another one as Sajad Ahmed Dar of Warpora, Kulgam, a Tavera driving.
“Firdous had joined militancy in April this year,” he told KNO. He identified the second slain as Sajad Ahmad Dar, son of Gulam Hassan Dar of Wampora Kulgam, a driver of Tavera, who had gone missing. The duo was killed in ambush laid by the security forces after they received a credible lead.
An official told KNO that the duo were traveling in a vehicle bearing registration number (JK03E0397) that jumped a check post set up by party of 44 RR in the area and opened fire. “Forces retaliated, triggering a brief shootout after which two bodies were recovered from the site,” he said.
The officer told KNO that Firdous was missing since April 05 and had later joined militant ranks while as Sajad was working as over ground worker. A police spokesman in a statement issued to KNO said that during the preceding night, security forces at a checkpoint on Shopian Turkawangom Road at Mool Chitragam intercepted a Tavera vehicle.
“However the militants travelling in the vehicle opened fire from inside on security forces which was retaliated. In the retaliation process, one militant identified as Firdous Ahmad Bhat and his active associate Sajad Ahmad who was driving the vehicle got killed. Both of them were the residents of Kulgam. Moreover one militant taking advantage of darkness managed to flee from spot,” the police said.
According to police records Firdous Bhat was a listed militant. Bodies of both the militants have been handed over to their legal heirs after completion of medico-legal formalities.
