New Delhi: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said on Tuesday that four persons including Haider, a "foreign" terrorist, his local associate, an over-ground worker (OGW), and a building owner were killed in Hyderpora, Srinagar in an encounter on Monday evening.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar explained that the building owner was killed in a “crossfire” along with the OGW who provided his rented place to Haider for using it as a “hideout.”
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar, IGP Kumar said that Monday evening, police received a lead about the presence of militants and terrorists near the national highway at Hyderpora.
“Police, CRPF and the army laid a cordon and when the suspected spot was zeroed in, militants fired indiscriminately at the forces,” the IGP said.
He added that in the ensuing gunfight, two people including a "foreign" terrorist identified as Haider and his local associate possibly from the Banihal area of Jammu were killed.
“We have called the family from Banihal to identify the slain,” IGP Kumar said.
IGP Kumar further told the press that the building owner Altaf Ahmed was killed in the crossfire.
“It is not sure whether the militant bullet or the bullets fired by forces hit him. Militants were carrying pistols and it would be clear after investigations whose bullet hit him,” he added.
He further said that the fourth person was Mudasir Ahmed, who was living on rent in the building. He had provided shelter to Haider and his associate.
“This way he was harbouring militants. Mudasir was also involved in ferrying Haider from the recent attack site of Jamalata Srinagar where a policeman was injured,” the IGP said, he was also involved in ferrying militants and terrorists from South and North Kashmir areas.
He said that from the encounter site, two pistols, two magazines, six mobile phones and a few computers were recovered. “Fourth slain Mudasir was also running a call centre. This way, he was an OGW and was directly involved in harbouring militants,” IGP Kumar said.
He added that since there were apprehensions of a law and order situation, the bodies of the deceased were not handed over to the families for the last rites.
He emphasised that before renting out rooms and buildings, owners should verify the details of their tenets with the police.
On questions of whether the police had clear evidence of Mudasir being involved in “harbouring militants”, IGP Kumar said that they had digital evidence and once they will get further proof, the same will be shared with media.