Srinagar, November 11: Two trekkers were miraculously rescued by the police on Sunday after they were inadvertently caught in the middle of an encounter between security forces and militants in the Zabarwan hills.
The trekkers, Tariq Ahmad Mir and Mufti Ziyan, employees at a well-known missionary school in Srinagar, were also carrying trekking bags and sticks. As gunfire erupted, the trekkers took cover behind rocks to avoid being seen. One of them managed to dial the emergency number 100 to inform the police of their location.
Sensing the imminent danger, a team of J&K Police led by SSP Srinagar Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, along with other senior officers, quickly rushed to the spot. The police’s biggest concern was that the trekkers’ sticks and backpacks could have easily been mistaken for arms or ammunition by the army or paramilitary forces in the area.
Moreover, the trekkers were positioned close to the suspected terrorists, putting them at high risk of being misidentified as terrorists or accomplices, which could have led to them being mistakenly fired upon. However, Hussain’s team temporarily halted the operation and carefully evacuated the trekkers from the scene to safety.
Following the incident, Kashmir Police Chief Vidhi Kumar Birdi advised all trekkers and adventure enthusiasts to inform local police of their travel plans and intended routes in advance, especially in areas where security operations may be underway. “This protocol allows us to respond swiftly and ensure their safety in case of unexpected situations,” Birdi said.
The security operation in the Zabarwan forest area was launched based on intelligence reports of militant presence.