Newly recruited militant killed in Shopian: Police

SHOPIAN — A newly recruited militant was killed in an encounter in Kashwa village of Chitragam hamlet of Shopian on Thursday.

An official told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that based on specific inputs, a cordon and search operation was launched by a joint team of forces.

“It was found that a local militant was hiding there. He was repeatedly asked to surrender but he didn’t accept the offer and opened fire which was retaliated during which he was killed,” the official said.

He said that slain was involved in an attack on a shopkeeper in the area last night.

Meanwhile, police in a series of tweets said that the militant was offered surrender for whole night but he rejected and was killed. “One pistol and ammunition was recovered from his possession,” the police said.

“Last night, recently active militant who was earlier an OGW & also involved in drugs, namely Anayat Ashraf Dar son of Ashraf Dar resident of Keshwa Shopian fired upon a civilian Jeewer Hameed Bhat, who got seriously injured and is still hospitalised,” Kashmir Police Zone tweeted.

In another tweet, police said, “Anayat also used to threaten other people in and around his village with his illegally acquired weapons. After thorough interrogation of several suspects after attack and input from sources, a CASO was launched at village Keshwa.”

“While laying a cordon, he fired upon the joint search party. All civilians in the adjoining houses to the target area were evacuated. He was offered to surrender for the whole night, but he didn’t surrender. Later on, during the encounter the said newly active militant got neutralised. One Pistol & ammunition were also recovered from his possession,” another tweet by the police read.