Srinagar, Nov 1 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Police chief on Sunday said that Militant commander Gazi Haider was killed in an encounter at Rangreth in centeral Kashmir's Srinagar.
According to top Cop on specific input regarding presence of militants in Rangreth area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Srinagar Police and CRPF in the said area.
He said during the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained he was given opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. Later on 53RR also joined in the operation.
In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed militant has been identified as Saif-Ul-Islam Mir @ Dr Saif @ Ghazi Haider resident of Malangpora, affiliated with HM.
According to police statement, he was chief operational commander of HM and was active since 2014. He was involved in many crimes and civilian atrocities besides was instrumental in recruiting innocent youth into militant folds. He was involved in killing of SgCT Khurshid Ahmad in Pulwama, killing of PSO of NC leader & SgCt Manzoor Ahmed in Kokernag, killing of a non local truck driver at Bijbehara, killing of Tanveer Ahmad Dar in Shopian. He was involved in attack on Sarpanch in Kokernag, grenade attacks on Police Post Kakapora & Police Post Lassipora, statement said.
Besides, he was also involved in many similar crimes regarding which dozens of cases stand registered against him in different Police Stations.
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 crimes.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has appreciated Police and SFs for the big success in eliminating chief operational commander of proscribed HM.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead body of the killed militant shall be sent to Baramulla for his burial & last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed terrorist shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.(KNS)