Srinagar August 29: Police on Saturday in a statement said that three Hizb militants and one army soldier was killed in Zadoora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama.
In a statement issued to media, police said that on a specific input regarding presence of militants in village Zadoora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 182/183BN CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
The statement further stated that, In the ensuing encounter, 03 militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir all residents of Pulwama and affiliated with outfit HM.
During the said encounter, one Army jawan also received critical injuries who was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
The police spokesperson said that we pay our rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Killed militants had a long history of militancy crime records. They were part of groups involved in planning and executing several militant attacks in the area including attacks on Police and security establishments. As per police records, Adil Hafiz was involved in case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to attack on naka party at Prichoo Bridge in which one police personnel was killed and another was injured.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other militancy crimes.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama and investigation has been initiated.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, reads the statement.
