STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Two terrorists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kulgam district on Wednesday, police said.
The killed terrorists of proscribed outfit HM have been identified as Basit Amin Bhat of Frisal and Saqib Ahmad Lone of Hawoora, Kulgam.
The encounter started earlier in the day when security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Kujjar following information about the presence of ultras there.
“02 terrorists killed. Bodies of the killed terrorists being retrieved from the site of encounter. Cordon & search operation is still in progress. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone police posted on X.
The search operation had turned into an encounter after the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, which retaliated.
According to an official handout, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam Police on a specific input regarding the presence of terrorists in Kujjar area of Kulgam.
During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists linked with proscribed terrorist outfit HM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.
As per police records, both the killed terrorists were involved in several terror crime cases. Terrorist Basit was involved in case FIR No 93/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 95/2016 under section 147, 148, 149, 336, 332 RPC, Case FIR No 35/2021 under section 18, 20, 38 UA(P) Act and Case FIR No 55/2021 under section 302 IPC, 7/27 A. Act 13, 16, 18, 38, 39 UA(P) of Police Station Yaripora. Terrorist Saqib Lone was involved in Case FIR No 41/2021 under section 13, 20, 38 UA (P) Act of Police Station Qaimoh
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 02 AK series rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
ADGP Kashmir congratulated the joint team of Police and security forces for conducting a successful operation without any collateral damage and termed the operation a big success.
Cordon and search operation will is continuing in the area. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress. The police requested the people to cooperate till the operation in the area concludes and completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
