Two suspected militants, allegedly affiliated to terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, and a civilian were killed in a gunfight in Kashmir’s Shopian district, the police said on Friday.
In a statement, the police said that the gunfight broke out during a search operation in carried out by the Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force in Ashimpora village.
The police claimed that the militants opened fire at the security forces and the civilian, identified as Shakeel Ahmad, sustained bullet injuries in the process. Ahmad was evacuated immediately for medical assistance, but he succumbed to his injuries, police said.
The statement said that the search party retaliated to the militants’ firing and gunned them down. The militants have been identified as Muzamil Ahmad Mir and Shariq Ayoub. The police said that the militants were part of groups involved in several terror crimes.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 1 AK-56 rifle, 2 AK Magazines, 1 Chinese Pistol, 1 Pistol Magazine and 26 AK rounds were recovered from the site of encounter,” the police said. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”
The police said have registered a case and are conducting an investigation.
Earlier on February 19, two soldiers and a militant were killed in a gunfight in Shopian in Kashmir.
On February 5, two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar.
On January 30, five suspected militants were killed in two separate gunfights with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 12 hours, according to the police.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!