Two Hizb militants killed in Chadoora gunfight

Srinagar, Feb 13: Two militants were killed by the government forces in a nocturnal gunfight in Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said that a cordon and search operation was laid jointly by the police and the forces in Gopalpora area following “credible inputs” about the presence of militants.

“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight,” he said.

In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of gunfight, he said.

“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter,” he said.

The slain militants, as per the police have been identified as Hilal Ahmad Wani alias Abu Maaz son of Mohammad Akram Wani of Munchew Yaripora in Kulgam district and Shoaib Mohd Lone @Mursi, son of Late Arshad Hussain of Bumrath Okay Kulgam.

“Hilal was the main person responsible for militant recruitment and was longest surviving militant who was operating across the southern and central belts of the valley ever since he had joined the militant ranks in 2015,” the police spokesperson said.

Bodies of the slain, he added, were handed over to their family after completion of medico-legal formalities.

The spokesperson said that citizens are requested not to venture inside encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.”