Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were on Wednesday killed in a gunfight with security forces at Kujjar belt of Yaripora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, police said.
A police official said that acting on specific information about the presence of militants, a joint cordon was laid by police, CRPF and the army’s 1st Rashtriya Rifles at Kujjar village.
“As the joint teams zeroed in on the suspected spot, the militants fired indiscriminately at the forces, triggering an encounter. In the exchange of fire, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved,” he said. “Two militants who have been identified as locals and affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.”
While quoting ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, Kashmir Zone police in a post on X said that the slain militants have been identified as Basit Amin Bhat of Frisal and Saqib Ahmad Lone of Hawoora, Kulgam, linked with HM militants outfit, adding therein that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including two AK rifles were recovered.
Officials said so far this year, 33 militants have been eliminated in different operations in the Kashmir Valley. “Thirty three number of militants have been killed in the valley including the two killed on Wednesday in Kulgam, while majority of the killed militants were foreigners,” they said.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued here on Wednesday said that acting on a specific input regarding the presence of militants in Kujjar area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam Police, Army (1RR) & CRPF in the area.
“During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militant fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 2 militants linked with HM militant outfit were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Basit Amin Bhat of Frisal and Saqib Ahmad Lone of Hawoora, Kulgam,” the spokesman said.
He said that as per police records both the killed militants were involved in several militancy related crime cases. “Militants Basit was involved in case FIR No 93/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 95/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 35/2021 under section 18, 20, 38 UA(P) Act and Case FIR No 55/2021 under section 302 IPC, 7/27 A. Act 13, 16, 18, 38, 39 UA(P) of Police Station Yaripora. Militant Saqib Lone was involved in Case FIR No 41/2021 under section 13, 20, 38 UA (P) Act of Police Station Qaimoh,” the spokesman said, adding that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 02 AK series rifles were recovered from the site of encounter.
He said that ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint team of Police and security forces for conducting successful operation without any collateral damage and termed the operation a big success. “Cordon & search operation will continue in the area. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the operation in the area concludes and completely sanitized & cleared of all the explosive materials, if any,” the spokesman said
