2 local militants, soldier killed in Awantipora encounter: Police

Srinagar: Two local militants and a solider were killed in a gunfight that broke out in Padgampora, Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Tuesday.
An official said that on specific input about the presence of militants, a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in Padgampora, Awantipora.
He said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which retaliated, thus triggering encounter.
The official said that during exchange of fire two militants were killed and they have been identified as Aqib Mushtaq Bhat of Malangpora and Aijaz Bhat of Pastuna, Tral.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here on Tuesday said that in a bravely executed operation, based upon specific input, joint forces of Army, J&K Police and CRPF launched a cordon in Padgampora village of Awantipora.
“During the search, militants hiding inside a mosque opened indiscriminate fire upon search parties and in this initial exchange of fire, two jawans of Army sustained grievous injuries while neutralizing one militant on spot. One of the jawans later on attained martyrdom,” the spokesman said, adding that “Extreme caution and limited firepower was used in view of the sacred precincts. Civilians praying inside were also evacuated on time preventing any collateral damage.”
The spokesman said that the after resuming the search for the second militant who was holed up inside a bathroom of an adjacent building, again caution was exercised and 14 civilians were rescued from the place before he was neutralized.
“Killed militants have been identified as Aqib Mushtaq Bhat of Malangpora, Pulwama (A Category) associated with Hizb Ul Mujahideen militant outfit and for past few months working with TRF and Aijaz Ahmad Bhat of Syedabad Pastuna Tral (C-Category) associated with militant outfit JeM and also working in coordination TRF. Aqib was active since January 2021 and Aijaz was active since May 2022,” he said.
The spokesman said that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 AK-74 rifle, 01pistol, 03 grenades, 02 pouches, 05 AK magazines, 02 pistol magazines, 103 AK rounds, 20 pistol rounds and 02 Aadhar cards were recovered from the site of encounter.
The spokesman said that investigation so far revealed that both the militants, although joined through different militant organisations, had come together to conspire and attack minorities, outsiders, other vulnerable targets and security forces, police said, adding that they were involved in FIR No. 14/2023 of PS Litter (recent killing of Kashmir Pandit Sh. Sanjay Pandita at Achan, Pulwama), FIR No 82/2022 of PS Pulwama (attack on 2 outside labourers at Lajoora), FIR No 115/2022 of PS Tral (weapon snatching attempt), FIR No 76/2022 of PS Tral (OGW module which supported them for grenade lobbing) among many other cases.
ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar paid rich tributes to the martyr soldier and appreciated joint efforts of police and security forces for conducting such a complex operation where a hostage situation was defused tactfully and also the sanctity of the mosque was maintained.
Army Version: Defence Spokesman in Srinagar in a statement issued on Tuesday said that based on a specific input, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Army, police and CRPF at about 6:35 PM on February 23 in Patgampora, Pulwama.
“In order to evade Security Forces, the militants occupied a Mosque in the target area. Ensuring the sanctity of the mosque, the Security Forces closed in and appealed to the militants to surrender. The militants, however opened indiscriminate fire on Security Forces and when cornered, used civilians in target area as a shield to escape. The Security Forces displayed utmost restraint and evacuated civilians praying inside the mosque thereby preventing any collateral damage,” he said, adding that “the Security Forces fired with extreme caution to preserve the sacred precincts and neutralized one militant on the spot.”
Defence spokesman said that the second militant fled and hid in the adjacent building housing the local citizens. “In the intense firefight, lasting several hours, the Security Forces subsequently not only neutralized the second militant, but also safely evacuated the civilians trapped inside the house. During this action, Sepoy Pawan Kumar and Naik Hemraj, lead from the front and suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were immediately evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar. Subsequent to the elimination of both the militants, the search of the area resulted in recovery of two AK series rifles, one pistol, three grenades and other war like stores,” he said, adding that “Sepoy Pawan Kumar in a sheer act of bravery over powered the first militant in a hand to hand combat and was grievously injured. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries, making the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army.”