2 HM ultras killed in Kulgam, infiltration bid foiled on LoC

SRINAGAR: Two militants were killed in another pre-dawn encounter with security forces, this time in Kulgam district, even as Army claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid by 4-5 Pakistani militants along the Line of Control in Bandipora district. While infiltrators were forced to move back, the security forces have recovered a large cache of weapons even as a search operation is underway in the area.
In another success for security agencies, two militants affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit were killed in an encounter which raged early morning in Kulgam district.
With Wednesday’s encounter, the total number of militants killed in Kashmir Valley during the ongoing month of Ramzan has gone up to 14.
“Acting on a credible input about presence of ultras in Gopalpora of D.H. Pora area of Kulgam, security forces launched a cordon and search operation early Wednesday morning,” a police spokesman said.
"During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter," the spokesman said.
He said in the ensuing gun battle, two militants were killed and the bodies retrieved from the site of encounter.
They were identified as Irfan Manzoor Bhat of Poniwah Kulgam and Zahid Ahmad Mantoo of Ferripora Shopian.
According to the police records, the killed terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM. They were wanted by law for their complicity in terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
As per police records Zahid was involved in planning & executing series of terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. Several terror crime cases were registered against him.
“He was involved in case FIR No 307/2018 pertaining to the killing of three policemen at Batgund Shopian last year. He was also involved in case FIR No 304/2018, 343/2018, 352/2018, 361/2018 pertaining to terror attacks and civilian atrocities in the area.
“Irfan had joined the proscribed terror outfit HM recently and was part of terror group involved in the killing of Abdul Majeed Dar of Shalipora Kulgam for which case FIR No. 40/2019 was registered in P/S Kulgam. Some other criminal cases were also registered against him,” the spokesman said.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and all these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes, he added.
Meanwhile, Army on Wednesday said that it foiled an infiltration bid in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district along the Line of Control.
An army officer informed that at about 04:00 pm, a group of 4 to 5 militants attempted to sneak in this side in the general area of Naushahra Nar in Kanjalwan of Gurez.
“The soldiers of 36 RR of Army manning the fence challenged their move and the militants opened fire leading to a brief exchange of gunfight”.
After being challenged, the militants returned back, the officer said.
Soon after the incident, a search operation was carried out during which two AK 47 rifles with nine magazines, 187 rounds, one Chinese pistol with two magazines, two rounds and one Pithu bag, the officer said.
He said that additional reinforcement of the army has been rushed to the area and massive searches are underway.