Srinagar, Dec 22 (KNS): At least six militants affiliated with Zakir Moosa led group were killed on Saturday morning in a gunfight that raged between forces and militants in Arampora village of Tral in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Police said that a joint cordon and search operation was launched in Arampora village of Tral by forces in the wee hours of Saturday morning following the credible inputs about the presence of militants.
“The militants holed up in the area fired upon the search party, which was retaliated, thus leading to an encounter,” police said, adding that six militants affiliated with Zakir Moosa led group have been killed in the gunfight.
Police also said that no collateral damage took place during the gunfight.
The slain militants as per police have been identified as Soliha Mohammad Akhoon, son of Ghulam Mohammad Akhoon of Arampora Tral, Faisal of Amlar, Nadeem Ahmad Sofi, son of Muzzafar Ahmad Sofi of Batagund Tral, Rasiq Mir, son of Ghulam Qadir Mir of Mir Mohalla Dadsara Tral, Rouf and Umar both residents of Dadsara Tral.
Soliha is believed the Deputy of Zakir Moosa led group, which is called Ansar Ghazwatulhind.
Police added that “all the six militants were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. This group was part of Zakir Mousa faction and was active in district Pulwama,” police said in a statement issued to KNS.
“As per Police records, Rasiq had a long history of crime records since last five years. Several cases were registered against him including case FIR number 170/2016 under section 13, 18, 18E, 20 ULAP Act. Soliha as per police records also had a long history of crimes since 2015 and was involved in several attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area,” police spokesman said.
“Similarly, Nadeem and Umar were also involved in several crimes. Also Rouf and Faisal were involved in planning and executing many attacks in the area,” he added.
Police added that the bodies of all the six militants after completion of medico legal formalities were handed over to their legal heirs.
“Arms and ammunition including rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other cases,” he said.
Police further appealed people not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials,” police said.
Meanwhile, soon after the news about the militant killings spread, people mostly youth to the streets and staged protest against the killings.
The protesting youth raised slogans in favour of freedom during the protest.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of slain militants in Arampora area of Tral.
People while participating in the funeral prayers raised slogans in favour of freedom.
The slain militants were later laid to rest in their native villages.
Meanwhile, the mobile internet services in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has been suspended following the encounter in Tral village.
The mobile internet service in other districts of South Kashmir was reduced to 2g.
Moreover, the train services from Baramulla to Banihal as also suspended for today in view of ‘security measure’. (KNS)