2 militants dead in Sopore

Two suspected JeM ultras held in UP

SRINAGAR: Two militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Baramulla district on Friday, even as two terrorist suspects from Kashmir believed to be associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter which ensued last night after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in apple township of Sopore in Baramulla.

Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Asthan Mohalla Warpora in Sopore late on Thursday night.

However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the Warpora, militants hiding there opened fire on search party.

They said the fire was returned ensuing in an encounter.

Additional security forces were rushed to the area to further tighten the cordon to foil any attempt by holed up militants to escape, they said, adding intermittent firing was going on during the night.

Later, people in the nearby houses were shifted to safer places. However, this morning with the first light security forces launched an all out offensive against the holed up militants, they said, adding there was heavy firing from militants.

Two militants were killed in the exchange of fire, they said, adding the operation has been called off.
“The bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained,” said a police spokesman in a statement.

“Arms and ammunition has been recovered from the encounter site,” they said, adding, police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson said, that in view of the apprehension of law and order problem, restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed on the gathering of more than 4 persons in entire Sub-division Sopore with effect from Thursday evening till further orders.

Meanwhile, two terror suspects from Kashmir were arrested from Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, Director General of Police O.P. Singh said.

Talking to the media, Singh said the two, both in their early 30s, were caught by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on the basis of intelligence inputs. The ATS has procured a two-day transit remand of the two suspected terrorists.

He said the arrested persons owed allegiance to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Pakistan-based terror outfit which claimed responsibility for the recent terror attack in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF troopers.

The two have been identified as Shahnawaz from Kulgam district and Aquib from Pulwama district, both in Jammu and Kashmir. Two weapons and some cartridges were recovered from their possession.

Soon after the transit remand was granted by a local court in Saharanpur, Shahnawaz and Aquib were taken to the state capital by an ATS squad for questioning.

While one of them was tasked with recruiting new persons into the terror outfit's fold, the other was trained in grenade making, the police said.

Based on the leads provided by the duo, the ATS has picked up a few persons for questioning from Khaankhah and Naaz Manzil areas in Saharanpur. Five students from Odisha were also being interrogated, the police said.

Raids were also being carried out in Deoband, Saharanpur, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar to round up a few suspects, DGP Singh said.