Two Al-Badr militants killed in Srinagar gunfight
Both slain locals; they refused repeated surrender offers: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar
Srinagar, May 17, 2021: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar Monday said that two Al-Badr militants have been killed in Khonmoh, Srinagar encounter and the slain duo are locals.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) at Pantha Chowk here, the IGP said that Srinagar police received a tip-off yesterday evening after which the lead was further developed. “Police, army and the CRPF laid a siege in Khommoh area. Two militants were hiding in the area. They were repeatedly asked to surrender, but they turned down all offers,” the IGP said. “This morning, the encounter started and both the militants were killed. The slain duo are locals from Al-Badr outfit.”
He said that Khonmoh and Khrew areas are connected with Tral belt of Pulwama district and this stretch usually witnesses militant movement. Five militants still active in Srinagar: IGP Kashmir
Vast network of OGWs in Sgr many arrested, booked under PAS, many on police radar, C-category OGWs being counselled handed over to families after counselling.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued here said that on a specific input of police regarding presence of militants in Khonmoh area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Srinagar Police, Pulwama police, 50RR & CRPF in the 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 statement said. “In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
Police identified the slain militants as Wasim Bashir Pandit son of Bashir Ahmad Pandit, a resident of Kakapora and Mudasir Ahmad Khanday son of Farooq Ahmad Khanday, resident of Bargam Awantipora. “Both the slain militants were affiliated with Al-Badr outfit,” the statement said.
The police spokesman further said that as per police records both the slain militants were part of groups involved in several crimes including planning and executing of attacks on police and security forces. “Arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” he said.
The spokesman further said that the last rites of the slain militants shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities and the nearest family members of local militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites. In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any. IGP Kashmir congratulated police & SFs for conducting successful ops without any collateral damage”, the police statement said— (KNO)
