Top LeT commander among two militants killed in Shopian encounter

Srinagar, July 19(KNS): Two militants, including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sidiq-Khan area Shopain in South kashmir, officials said on Monday. 

In a statement issued to Kashmir news service (KNS), the police said that aacting on a specific information generated by Shopian Police about presence of militants at village Check-i-Sidique Khan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 34RR and 178BN CRPF in the said area.

"During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given repeated opportunities to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter, " the police said. 

It said that In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed militant outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. 

Police said that they have been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Rashid Dar resident of Hafshirmal Shopian a top commander of proscribed militant outfit LeT active since 2017 and Majid Iqbal Bhat son of Mohammad Iqbal Bhat resident of Melibagh Imamsahab, Shopian.

"As per police records, both the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in various militant crime cases and several terror crime cases were registered against them, " the police said. 

"It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist Ishfaq Ahmad Dar was active since 2017 and figured among the list of most wanted militant, " the police statement said. 

Besides, being part of groups involved in several militant crime cases, he was very instrumental in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments, civilian killings and misleading the gullible youth by motivating them to join terrorist folds. 

The police said that he was also involved in killing of 04 police personnel at minority guard Zainapora on 11/12/2018, killing of two non-local drivers in Chittrigam Shopian on 24/10/2019. 

Moreover, on his behest two youth namely Asif Lone resident of Khudwani Kulgam and Ab Rashid Thoker resident of Hussanpora Arwani also joined the militant ranks.  

"Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 2 AK-47 rifles and 08 Magazines were recovered from the site of encounter, " the statement said. 

 All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

IGP Kashmir congratulated joint team of Police & security forces for conducting successful operation in professional manner by neutralizing the most wanted terrorist without any collateral damage.

"In this connection, Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated, " it said. 

"People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any," reads the statement of police (KNS).

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