3 Hizb militants, woman killed, CRPF man injured in Batamaloo gunfight

Srinagar: Three militants were killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Batamaloo area of Srinagar on Thursday morning. A woman was also killed during the gunfight in the area, triggering protests in the area.
Police officials said a specific input was received regarding the presence of militants in Batamaloo area of Srinagar following which a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Police and CRPF in the area.
They said that as the presence of militants got ascertained during the CASO, they were given the opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, thus leading to an encounter.
“Unfortunately in the initial indiscriminate firing by the militants, Deputy Commandant CRPF Rahul Mathur and a lady identified as Kounsar Jan got seriously injured. The injured lady succumbed to her injuries on spot while the injured CRPF Officer was shifted to hospital for treatment of his injuries,” police officials said.
In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, they said while identifying the slain militants as Zakir Ahmad Paul, son of Nisar Ahmad of Aloora Imam Sahib Shopian, Ubair Mushtaq Bhat, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat of Badragund Kulgam and Adil Hussain Bhat, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Batapora Chersoo Awantipora, saying that the militants were affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
Officials said that the trio was involved in several attacks in Srinagar City and South Kashmir.
Police in a statement said that keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the slain militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. “The nearest family members of the slain militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla,” police said.
Police also said that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other cases,” police added.
In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated, police said and appealed people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
Meanwhile, witnesses said stone pelting incidents were reported in Batamaloo area during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.
However, on late evening, the authorities handed over the body of the slain woman to the life following which her last rites were performed, witnesses said, adding that people in large number attended the funeral of the slain woman.