4 Militants Slain in 2 Separate Military Operations in Southern Kashmir

“Two AK series rifles recovered from militants slain in Tral, and AK series rifles, 4 AK magazines, and 32 rounds recovered from militants slain in Shopian operation.”

SRINAGAR — Four militants have been killed in two separate military operations in southern Kashmir valley on Saturday.

Two militants were killed in a military operation by government forces in the Chowgam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said on Saturday.

A police officer said that the joint teams of police, army, and paramilitary CRPF launched a military operation after the government forces received information about the presence of militants in the area. He said that two militants were killed in the operation.

Police have identified the slain militants as Sajad Ahmad Chak son of Bashir Ahmad Chak, a resident of Braripora, Shopian, and Raja Basit Yaqoob son of Mohd Yaqoob Najar, a resident of Achan Litter, Pulwama.

In a separate military operation in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the police official said two militants were killed.

In the afternoon, a police spokesperson in a statement said that acting on inputs generated by police about the presence of militants in Chowgam village, the government forces including police, 44RR and 14Bn CRPF launched an operation.

He said that the militants were offered to surrender. However, they denied and “fired indiscriminately” on forces leading to an “encounter”.

In the operation, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the military operation.

The spokesperson said that as per the police records both the slain were categorized militants linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba. He said one among the slain militants was “instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join militant folds”.

He said that arms and ammunition including two AK series rifles, 4 AK magazines, and 32 rounds were recovered from their possession. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”

He said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of law and investigation initiated.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson said that two militants slain in Tral military operation have been identified as Nadeem Nazir Bhat son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Koil Shikargah Tral, and Rahi Rasool Bhat alias Adil son of Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Kanipora Dadsara

He said the operation was launched on specific information generated by Police regarding the presence of militants in village Hardumir, Tral area of Awantipora.

“As per police records both the slain were categorized militants and were part of groups involved in several militancy cases including IED blast and grenade attacks on police and security forces establishments,” he said.

The spokesperson said arms and ammunition including two AK series rifles were recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.

Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated.