South Kashmir gunfight leaves 2 militants dead

Anantnag : A day after killing the Al-Badar Chief, Joint Forces killed 2 militants in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.The encounter had started on Wednesday late evening when Joint Forces including the soldiers from 3 Rashtriya Rifles zeroed in a house at Kandipora village of Bijbehara town where militants were present.The operation had been suspended for the night while flash lights had been installed to keep an eye on the movement of trapped militants. An official told KNT that with the resumption of the operation on Thursday morning, there was an exchange of fire that led to the killing of 2 militants.Unconfirmed sources identified the 2 slain militants as Adil Ahmad Bhat and Zahir Ameen Rather.Inspector General of Police for Kashmie, Vijay Kumar while confirming the killing of these two militants said anti-militancy operations have been intensified.In response to a question, Kumar said militancy is not on rise but operations against militants are on rise.This was the 2nd encounter of the current month. A day before Al-Badar Chief Khawaja Ganaie was killed in Tujjar area of North Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district.Police said on specific input generated by Anantnag police regarding presence of militants in village Kandipora Bijbehara area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (3 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.Due to darkness the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout night. Today in the morning, repeated announcements were again made to hiding militants to surrender, but the militants fired on joint search party and the fire was retaliated resulting in the elimination of two hiding militants. They have been identified as Adil Ahmad Bhat resident of Shithpora Bijbehara and Zahid Ahmad Rather resident of Sirhama Anantnag, affiliated with proscribed militant outfit JeM.As per police records, both the killed militants were involved in several crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other militant crimes.The last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in their last rites.In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered 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.(KNT)