Srinagar, Jan 13 (KMW): Three militants, all of them foreigners, were killed while as two army personnel sustained minor injuries during a gun battle in Dooru-Sopore in North Kashmir on Monday.
Addressing a late evening press meet in Sopore, the Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir said that at around 11 am, police had received information about the presence of some militants in Dooru area of Sopore.
“Th police along with SOG, 22 Rashtreya Rifles and CRPF swung into action and cordoned the area where the gun battle started. In this encounter three militants were killed while as two soldiers received minor injuries but they are out of danger,†the IGP told reporters, adding that both of the injured soldiers have been shifted to army hospital where their condition is stable.
The IGP informed that there were five militants hiding in the house but two militants fled the spot during the gun battle. “All the militants killed in this encounter have been identified as Hassan, Rizwan and Farooq. They belonged to Jasih-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit. Hassan was heading this outfit in North Kashmir and he had replaced Qari Yasir who got killed in Lolab last year.â€
The IGP said that the militants killed were affiliated to an already categorized outfit, operating in North Kashmir Lolab area for the last one year and today’s encounter had no connection with any infiltration attempt.
In response to a question whether the slain militants were involved in the killing of ASI Kafeel Ahmad who got killed in Sopore few days ago, the IGP said: “No, they were not involved in his (ASI) killing.â€
The IGP Kashmir revealed that today’s encounter in Dooru was in a way a continuation of an encounter that took place at Marbel forests where the slain militants being a part of the group had given a slip to the forces two days ago.
