5 militants killed in 2 gunfights in Shopian, Pulwama areas

Srinagar: Five militants—two from Hizbul Mujahideen and three from Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit— were killed in two separate encounters in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir in the last 24 hours.
First encounter broke out at Melhoora, Shopian on Monday evening. A senior police officer said two militants were killed in an overnight encounter at Melhoora, Shopian.
He added that one militant was killed on Monday evening while another one was killed today. “Bodies of both militants along with ammunition was recovered,” he said.
“On Monday evening operation was halted due to darkness, however, cordon was tightened to ensure that no trapped militant can flee and operation resumed on today morning,” the officer said.
He identified the slain militants as Umar Thoker from Shirpora, Frisal, Kulgam and Tanveer Ahmad Khanday from Yaripora, Kulgam. “Both were associated with Hizb. A police spokesman said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants,” he said in a statement issued here on Tuesday, adding 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 bodies of slain militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial. “The nearest family members of the slain militants shall be allowed to participate in last rites,” the statement said.
Another encounter broke out at Harkipora, Kakapora, Pulwama in South Kashmir. A police officer said that three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in Pulwama gunfight. A senior police official in Pulwama said that acting on a specific input about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched in Hakripora area of Kakapora belt in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
He said that a joint team of forces including 50 RR, CRPF and Pulwama Police approached towards suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon forces which was retaliated triggering an encounter.
During the initial exchange of fire two militants were killed, he said, adding that the third one was repeatedly asked to surrender, however, he refused and fired upon forces which was retaliated and he too got killed. “Bodies of three slain militants along with weapons have been recovered and identification of slain is being ascertained,” the official said, adding that the militants were given a chance to surrender but they refused.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here on Tuesday said that the identification of the killed militants is being ascertained. “However as per the reliable sources and technical input, they were affiliated with LeT outfit and were involved in the attack on CRPF at Pulwama yesterday,” the statement said.
“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 terror crimes,” he said. “The bodies of the killed terrorists shall be sent to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. In case any family claims the slain militants to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification at PCR Kashmir, Srinagar.”
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the statement said