Khonmoh encounter ends: 2 militants’ bodies recovered from gutted houses

Srinagar, Mar 16: Two militants were killed in an overnight gunfight with government forces in Balhama area of Khonmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar, police said on Friday.
“Two dead bodies of militants have been recovered so far,” said a police spokesman, in a statement.
“Along (with) the dead bodies, incriminating materials which include weapon and ammunition have been recovered as well,” the spokesman said.
The slain were identified as Owais Ahmad of Nawdal, Tral and Shabir Ahmad of Aghanzipora Awantipora. The duo had joined militancy last year, he said.
Unconfirmed reports said that both of them belonged to Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind militant outfit.
The gunfight had begun on Thursday after militants attacked the policemen guarding BJP leader Anwar Khan.
At least four residential houses were severely damaged in the operation. Two of them belonged to Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and others to Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Ghulam Mohi-ud-din.
Soon after the encounter ended, there were heavy stone pelting clashes in the area in which SHO Nowgam and two other policemen got injured.
Police and CRPF resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the stone-pelting youth.
Later, thousands participated in the funeral prayers of slain militant Shabir Ahmed in Awantipora area.
Reports said that thousands of the people from Aghanzipora and adjoining villages participated in the funeral prayers of the slain militant.
Earlier people from adjoining areas marched to Aghanzpora raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
However, a shutdown was also observed in Aghanzpora and adjoining villages of Awantipora. All the business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads, reports claimed.
Clashes also erupted in several areas of Pulwama following the killing of the two militants.
Witnesses said that clashes erupted in Nawdal, Tral after the burial of Owais Ahmad at his ancestral graveyard in the village.
At Murran chowk in main Pulwama town, youth took to streets and clashed with the forces deployed in the area to thwart protests.
Clashes were also reported from Awantipora as well.
Mobile Internet service continued to remain suspended on the second consecutive day in Awantipora on Friday.
A complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama district to mourn the killings.
All shops and other commercial establishments remained closed while traffic was off the roads.
The encounter had ensued on Thursday after a group of militants made an abortive bid to snatch a rifle of the personal guard of BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan near Arsh medical institute in Balhama, Khanmoh. The PSO identified as Bilal Ahmad suffered injuries in the incident.
Soon army, CRPF, and SOG rushed to the area and cordoned off the entire as they intensified the searches.