Two bodies found during ongoing gunfight in Kulgam

SRINAGAR — Two bodies of militants have been recovered from the encounter site in an ongoing gunfight which broke out at Gopalpora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district during pre-dawn hours of Wednesday.

A senior police officer said that second militant body has been recovered in an ongoing operation and searches are underway.

“However, the identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained,” the officer added.

Sources, however, identified one among the slain militant as Zahid Ahmad Mantoo son of Bashir Ahmad Mantoo of Ferripora Shopian. Irfan Manzoor, son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat resident of Panowal Kulgam, was identified as the other slain.

Both were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Zahid had joined militant ranks on August 25, 2018 while Irfan was active from April 05, 2019.

Meanwhile, mobile Internet has been clamped down in Kulgam for precautionary measures.

Earlier reports reaching here said that a joint team of Army’s 34RR and SOG launched a cordon and search operation at Gopalpora village.

In the initial phase of gunfight, one militant was killed and operation was underway.