Srinagar, Nov 29 (KNS): Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Sharshali area of Khrew in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Police said that based on a specific tip off, a cordon and search operation was jointly launched by police and forces at predawn hours today in Sharshali area of Khrew.
“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” police said.
However, police said that no collateral damage took place during the encounter, saying that police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.
Meanwhile, police identified the slain militants as Adnan Ahmad Lone alias Uqaab, son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone of Braw Bandina, Awantipora and Adil Bilal Bhat alias Umair Al Hizbi, son of Bilal Ahmad Bhat of Malangpora, Pulwama.
Both were affiliated with Hizb, police said, adding that as per the records, Adnan Lone was known as district commander of Pulwama for HM.
“Both the militants were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. Adnan Lone as per Police records was one of the top commanders of HM and had a long history of terror crime records since 2015. He was a close associate of commander Reyaz Naikoo and had escaped from encounter site at Srinagar earlier. Several terror cases were registered against him,” police said.
Similarly, Adil Bhat being a close associate of Reyaz Naikoo was also involved in several crimes, police said, adding that among several other offences, he also figured in killing of HC Ashiq Hussain at Awantipora in October 2017.
“Huge quantity of 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,” police said.
Meanwhile, police 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, thousands of people participated in the funeral procession of slain militants at their native villages today.
Reports said that multiple rounds of funeral prayers were held for the slain militants.
Witnesses said that three rounds of funeral prayers were held for Adnan Lone and four rounds for Adil Bhat.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district when the funeral prayers for a slain militant Mehraj-ud-din was being held.
Mehraj was killed in the gunfight at Chattergam area of Budgam district along with a top LeT commander, Naveed Jatt on Wednesday.
Reports said that forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them. (KNS)