Two militants killed in Kreeri gunfight

Srinagar, Oct 25: Two militants were killed in a gunfight at Athoora area of Kreeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.

Reports said that a joint team of army’s 52 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Athoora area on Thursday morning at around 6:00 a.m.

In the initial “brief” gunfight, both the militants were killed and their bodies recovered along with as many weapons, they said.

Soon after the news about the encounter spread, the youth took to streets and clashed with forces at Athoora and its adjoining areas, they said.

A police spokesman in a statement issued here said that the government forces launched a cordon and search operation based on “credible input” about the presence of the militants at Authoora village of Kreeri.

“As the search operation was going on, Police while making all efforts to motivate the hiding (militants) to surrender provided them with several opportunities to come out, however, the militants refused and instead fired from inside on the search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, “the spokesman said.

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were neutralized. The identity of the killed militants is being ascertained, “the spokesman said.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation has been initiated, he said.

“Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the site of encounter 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,” the spokesman said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)