Srinagar, May 03 (KNS): Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants were on Friday killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Adkhara Village in Imam Sahab area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
A police spokesperson in a statement said that the encounter broke out in the area after a cordon and search operation was launched in the area following credible inputs about the presence of militants.
During searches conducted by police and other forces, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, adding that the fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter.
“Initially, with the efforts of police and security forces, the civilians trapped around the encounter site were evacuated to safer places. Besides, one Army man Yugendar Kumar sustained gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to hospital and is undergoing medical treatment,” police said.
In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain have been identified as Lateef Ahmad Dar alias Tiger of Dogripora Pulwama, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh alias Mufti Waqas of Moolu Chitragam Shopian and Shariq Ahmad Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian.
According to the police records, all the three militants were affiliated with HM and were wanted by ‘law for their complicity in a series of crimes’ including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
“Lateef had a long history of crime records since 2014 and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registered against him,” police said.
Similarly, Tariq also had a long history of crime records and was involved in several attacks, police said, adding that several crime cases were registered against him. “He was part of groups involved in planning and executing attacks on the security establishments in the area. He was instrumental in luring youth to join organisations. Moreover, he was also involved in several weapon snatching cases reported from the area. Shariq was also involved in several attacks,” police added.
Police added that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, adding that police has registered a case, saying that all these incriminating materials have been taken in case records to probe their complicity in other crimes.
Meanwhile, police urged people not to venture inside 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 explosive materials if any,” police added.
Meanwhile, reports said that clashes also erupted in the area during which forces used to tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were pelting stones on them.
Reports added that scores of youth also received injuries during the clashes. (KNS)