Srinagar/Nov,4: A militant of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen militant outfit Irfan Ahmad Bhat of Bandzoo Pulwama and a civilian identified as Shahid Ahmad Mir of Gagran village of Shopian district were on Saturday evening killed during a gunfight in Khudpora village of Shopian district.
Police said one of two bodies recovered from the site of a gunfight in Shopian district on Sunday has been identified as that of a civilian, Shahid Ahmad Mir of Gagran village and his body has been handed over to his family at DPL Shopian.
Locals said ‘the body was recovered from the gunfight site today morning during searches which continued throughout Saturday night after a brief gunfight Saturday evening’
Police said ‘another body recovered Saturday night was identified as that of militant, Irfan Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Bandzoo Pulwama’ adding ‘gunfight broke out last evening after a joint team of army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation in Khudpora village’ .
As already reported police and government forces Saturday evening launched a cordon and search operation in Khudpora after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
Police said ‘as the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter and before the exchange of fire civilians from the nearby area were evacuated to safer places’ .
A statement issued by Jammu and Kashmir Police said ‘in the ensuing encounter, hiding militants fired on security forces. Consequently post encounter during the search two dead bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. The killed militant has been identified as Mohd Irfan Bhat of Pulwama who was associated with HM outfit since June 2017. The other one was identified as Shahid Mir who as per the police records was part of case FIR 201/2004 under section 7/25 Arms Act of police station Shopian for militancy related incident.A couple of militants managed to escape from the site as blood trails have been seen at the site.Moreover, the house where the encounter took place is intact albiet a hideout was found inside the house where militants were hiding. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter’.
Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter for ascertaining the facts pertaining to militants hiding in the said house and other related matters to this incident.
