Militant killed, another arrested from a truck in Khrew after escaping from B’gam, driver arrested, truck seized

Srinagar: Police on Saturday said that a militant was killed in Mochwa area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam while another militant who escaped was arrested from Khrew area.
Police in a statement said that acting on a specific information generated by Budgam Police about presence of militants in Mochwa Chadoora area of Budgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 181 Battalion CRPF in the said area.
The statement further stated that during the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however, instead of surrendering they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, one militant of proscribed militant outfit Al-Badre was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter.
He has been identified as Shakir Bashir Dar son of Bashir Ahmad Dar resident of Goripora, Awantipora.
As per police records, the killed militant was part of groups involved in various militant cases and several militant cases were registered against him.
It is pertinent to mention that Shakir Bashir was earlier working as a militant associate with proscribed militant outfit LeT and joined militant folds of proscribed militant outfit Al-Badr recently. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-rifle with 02 Magazines, 32 rounds, 1 Chinese pistol with 02 Magazines, 16 rounds, 01 Bagpack and 01 Pouch were recovered from the site of encounter, they said.
While the said operation was in progress, it was learnt that while laying cordon another militant had managed to escape from the encounter site and the information was shared with Awantipora Police, they said.
Awantipora Police while developing the lead further launched a cordon and search operation in Mantaqi Colony Khrew area along with 50RR and 185BN CRPF. During search, the escaped militant was tracked down and arrested while hiding in a truck (JK13-2397). He has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Najar resident of Wuyan Khrew linked with proscribed militant outfit LeT. The driver of the truck identified as Muhammad Shafi Dar resident of Gratwani Mohalla Khrew has also been arrested. Besides the said truck has also been seized, they said.
Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 Chinese Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine, 07 Pistol rounds, 02 AK-Magazines, 50 AK-rounds, 01 Chinese grenade, 5Kgs IED (destroyed on spot) were also recovered from the site, they said.
IGP Kashmir has congratulated joint teams of Police/SF for the showing the exemplary coordination in conducting successful operation in professional manner without any collateral damage and tracking down the escaped militant. Besides IGP Kashmir appeals to parents of newly recruited militants to bring their children back to mainstream.
In this connection, Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress, reads the statement.