3 LeT militants killed in Shopian encounter: Police

Srinagar: Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (TRF) militants were killed in an encounter between security forces and militants in Check-e-Cholan area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said Wednesday.
A senior police officer said that three militants affiliated with LeT/TRF were killed in an encounter with security forces at Check-e-Cholan area of Shopian.
An official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
A police spokesman in a statement on Wednesday said that acting on a specific input generated by Police regarding the presence of militants in village Check Cholan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 34RR and 178Bn CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender; however they fired indiscriminately at the joint search party which retaliated leading to an encounter,” the police spokesman said. “In the ensuing encounter, three militants LeT (TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
Police identified the slain as Amir Hussain Ganie son of Manzoor Ahmad resident of Check-e- Cholan Shopian, Rayees Ahmed Mir son of Nazir Ahmad, resident of Kapran, Shopian and Haseeb Ahmad Dar son of Mohd Yousuf Dar, resident of Khudwani, Kulgam.
“As per police records, all the three killed militants were categorized militants and linked with LeT (TRF) were part of groups involved in several crime cases including attacks on security forces,” the police spokesman said, adding that the killed militant Aamir Hussain was active since September-2020 and involved in several cases including Case FIR No. 264/2021 of PS Shopian regarding attack on Police/SF at Village Rakhma on 01/10/2021.
“He was also involved in luring gullible youth to join militancy folds. Militant Rayees Ahmad was active since June-2021 and involved in several cases including attack on Police/SF. He was also involved in an attack on Police/SF at Village Rakhma. Besides, Haseeb Yousuf was also involved in several cases in the areas of Kulgam,” the police spokesman said.
He said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK 74 rifle and two pistols were also recovered from their possession. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the spokesman said.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. “People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the police spokesman said