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| Two Hizib militants killed in Kulgam gunfight | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 22 : Two militants were killed by security forces on Wednesday after an encounter in Gopalpora area of Kulgam district.
The encounter broke out in the wee hours of after a cordon-and-search operation was launched by a joint team of Army's 34RR and SOG in Gopalpora village.
The cordon-and-search operation was launched after the security forces received specific inputs that some militants were hiding in the area. The encounter started after the militants opened fire at security forces, said a police official. The bodies of both militants have been recovered.
Police said the identity of the militants identified the slain as Zahid Ahmad Mantoo son of Bashir Ahmad Mantoo of Ferripora Shopian.
Zahid was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and had joined militant ranks on August 25, last year. Meanwhile, mobile Internet has been clamped down in Kulgam and Shopian as precautionary measure.
"Incriminating material including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter," police added."Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire," said the spokesman.
"Citizens are requested not to venture inside the 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," said police spokesman in a statement.
More than 14 militants have been killed since May 10, almost double the number killed in the previous fortnight when the elections were underway in the Valley.
The surge in anti-militancy operations coincides with the ongoing holy month of Ramazan which began on May 7. People Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti had appealed the centre to announce ceasefire during this month but no to avail.
While operations against militants have gone up, a steady trickle of Kashmiri youngsters continue to join militancy. According to Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, at least 40 youth have joined various militant outfits this year. Unofficial figure may be much higher.
"We have eliminated over 86 militants this year but the issue of Kashmiri boys joining militant groups remains a matter of concern," Lt Gen Singh said in a press conference in Udhampur on Monday. |
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