New Delhi: Two militants, linked to an attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel earlier this month, were killed in an encounter in Srinagar on Sunday.
During the encounter, two militants were shot dead and three security personnel got injured, police said.
Taking to its Twitter handle, the Kashmir Zone police wrote: “Two Pakistani terrorists who were involved in recent terror attack on CRPF Personnel, neutralised in Srinagar encounter. Arms & ammunition, other incriminating materials recovered.”
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, police had been tracking the terrorists from the day of the attack on April 4 and the encounter was launched after pinpointing their location on Sunday.
Detailing the encounter, a police spokesperson, as reported by news agency PTI said that around 10.50am, police and Valley QAT CRPF launched a search operation in Bishembar Nagar area of the city. As the search party approached the hiding spot of the suspects, the militants started firing indiscriminately, leading to the police personnel firing back. In the initial exchange of fire, one terrorist was neutralised, the official said.
Taking into account the tourist rush in the area and to avoid civilian casualty, the operation was carried out in a professional manner, the spokesperson said, adding that first the civilians were evacuated and then the operation was resumed.
During the evacuation, the other militant hurled a grenade, resulting in minor splinter injuries to two policemen and a CRPF jawan who were shifted to hospital. In the following encounter, the other terrorist was killed.
Both the militants were Pakistanis and identified as Mohammad Bhai alias Abu Qasim, alias Mir Shoaib alias Mudassir, and Abu Arsalan alias Khalid alias Aadil. As per records, both were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT.
“Both the killed terrorists had a history of terror crime cases, including pistol-borne attacks and grenade throwing incidents. They were also involved in an attack on CRPF personnel on April 4 in Maisuma area in which one CRPF jawan attained martyrdom and another got injured,” the spokesperson said.
While Mohammad Bhai was active since 2019, Abu Arsalan was active since 2021 in Central Kashmir, and were carrying fake Aadhaar cards to hide their identity, he added.
IGP Kumar said that the killing of the two terrorists is a huge success for the police and CRPF.
“I want to give a message that whoever attacks innocent police personnel, civilians or journalists or anyone, be it a Pakistani or a local terrorist, he will be neutralised,” he said, adding that this operation is one of the best examples of how investigation of a terror crime case leads to an anti-terrorist drive.
Talking about seizing of properties of those who harbour militants, the police chief said that the process will continue and the house in which Sunday’s encounter took place will also be seized.
Kumar added that there has been a decline in the number of terrorists in the Valley and the police, Army and CRPF will work on reducing the number further.
Although the security personnel were a soft target for the terrorists, the forces have been giving a befitting response to them, the IGP said.
“Our jawans who are deployed in lanes or localities are a soft target. Terrorists come with their pistols concealed and it is easy for them to attack. But, we are giving them a befitting reply,” the IGP added.