Two JeM militants killed as gunfight breaks out in Anantnag

SRINAGAR — Two militants have so far been killed and one lady got injured in Viddy village of Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s district Anantnag, in an ongoing encounter which was triggered after security agencies received information about the presence of militants in the area, on Monday.

A joint team of Army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir police cordoned off the area on early Monday morning and launched a search operation there.

When the house to house searches were going on, militants hiding inside a house fired upon them, triggering a gunbattle between the two sides.

One militant was killed in the initial retaliatory fire from the forces, while the other was eliminated later.

A lady identified as Arifa Jan was also injured in the gunbattle between militants and the forces. The injured lady was shifted to nearby hospital, where she is presently undergoing treatment.

A police official, while confirming the killing of two militants in Srigufwara encounter, said that one militant was killed on early Monday morning, while the other was killed later in the gunfight with Army’s 3 RR, CRPF and J&K Police.

He said, “While the gunfire has stopped, but the search operation is on in the area and its adjoining villages.”

“The identity of the militants has not been known yet, but the efforts are on to identify the killed militants,” he added.

Sources said that search operation continued even after the encounter was over as forces were making sure that there are no further militants hiding in the area.

“The internet service has been snapped in Anantnag district as a precautionary measure,” they added.

Meanwhile later in the afternoon, Jammu and Kashmir Police in its statement regarding the encounter said that on a specific input generated by Anantnag Police regarding presence of militants in Srigufwara area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by JKP, 03 RR and CRPF in the said area.

“During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the statement read.

It added that in the indiscriminate firing by militants, one woman received gunshot injuries. She was shifted to hospital for treatment where her condition is stated to be stable.

In the ensuing encounter, two militants affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, police said.

One of the killed militants has been identified as Nasir alias Shahbaz alias Baz Bai, a Pakistan resident, ‘A’ category militant, while as the identification of the other killed militant is being ascertained.

Arms and ammunition & other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Search in the area is in progress.

The statement further said that keeping in view present COVID situation, the dead bodies of the killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA.

“In case any family claims the killed terrorist to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla,” said the police.

It said that in this connection, a case under relevant Sections of law has been registered in Police Station and investigation has been initiated.

People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, the police added in its statement.