A police spokesman said that acting on specific information generated by Police regarding the presence of a terrorist in village Binner area of Baramulla, a joint cordon & search operation was launched by Police, Army (46RR), SSB (2nd Bn) & CRPF (53Bn) in the said area. 

 

"During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter," he said. 

 

"In the ensuing encounter, one local categorized terrorist identified as Irshad Ahmad Bhat son of Fayaz Ahmad resident of Wailoo Pattan Baramulla of proscribed terror outfit LeT was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter," the police added. 

 

"As per police records, the killed terrorist was active since May 2022. Before joining terrorist ranks the killed terrorist was working as a terrorist associate of proscribed terror outfit HM along with his father who was a terrorist commander of terror outfit HM & got killed in year 2015 at Devbug. Irshad was involved in several terror crime cases including attack on two civilians namely Abdul Rehman Wani and Aftab Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Gundari Pora Baramulla at their native village on 11/08/2016 in which both received critical gunshot injuries. He was also involved in killing of a civilian namely Zakir Hussain Bado of Mahmood Pora at Wailoo Baramulla on 09/11/2016," the police added. 

 

"He was arrested by security forces in year 2017 along with arms & ammunition. After a period of at least 5 years he was released on bail by Hon’ble Court in April 2022 but he did not refrain from his activities and formally joined terrorist ranks in May 2022," the police said. 

 

"Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 AK series rifle, 02 magazines and 30 rounds have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation," the police said. 

 

"In this regard, 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 at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any," the police said. 

 

Pertinently, it is the second consecutive successful operation in Baramulla district in past 24 hours. Yesterday, one terrorist was killed in an operation at Wanigam Bla area of Baramulla.

 

"Moreover in Bandipora, Police along with Army (26 Assam Rifles) arrested a hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT identified as Faisal Gulzar son of Gulzar Ahmad resident of Hillar Arhama Anantnag who was missing since 17/07/2022," the police said, adding that Incriminating material, arms & ammunition including one pistol was recovered from his possession. In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation has been initiated.(KNS)