Shopian encounter: Militant, overground worker killed in shootout in Chitragam; Internet services suspended

Shopian encounter: Police sources said a patrol party of the Rashtriya Rifles was fired upon by militants in Chitragam village of Shopian district on Monday.

Shopian encounter: Two unidentified militants - one terroist and an overground worker (OGW) of militants - were killed in Chitragam Shopian in a brief encounter early on Monday morning. (ANI)

Shopian encounter: Two unidentified militants - one terroist and an overground worker (OGW) of militants - were killed in Chitragam Shopian in a brief encounter early on Monday morning. Militants attacked army vehicles passing the village with firing which was retaliated. They were killed in a shootout between the security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. After the firing stopped, searches in the area led to the discovery of two bodies. The search operation is underway. Police sources said a patrol party of the Rashtriya Rifles was fired upon by militants in Chitragam village of Shopian district on Monday. "A patrol party of Rastriya Rifles was fired upon today by militants travelling in a vehicle in Chitragam village of Shopian district. The fire was returned resulting in a brief shootout in which one militant and an OGW were killed," police said. "The slain militant has been identified as Firdous Ahmad Bhat and the OGW as Sajad Ahmad Dar, both belonging to Kulgam district. "Group affiliation of the slain militant and the OGW is being ascertained," police sources said.

#Visuals Jammu & Kashmir: One terrorist killed in exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Molu-Chitragam area of Shopian district. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/SY6t65TowP

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2019

OGWs are overground workers of militant outfits who work as their eyes and ears. They keep watch on the movement of security forces, arrange hideouts for militants and also provide other logistic support to them. Mobile Internet services have been suspended in Kulgam district as a precautionary measure. Interestingly, over 100 militants, including 23 foreigners, have been killed in Kashmir in the first five months of 2019, but what is keeping the security establishment worried is the large number of new recruits, officials said Sunday. According to them, 50 youngsters have joined various terror outfits since March and the security establishment needs to find a better way to cut off the supply chain and can even consider educating families on radicalisation of the youth. After the February 14 terror strike in Pulwama, the officials feel, encounters between terrorists and security forces have turned into spectacles with protests and stone pelting by locals at sites, followed by large gatherings at funerals. The entire phenomenon has the potential to create an emotionally charged environment ideal for recruiting fresh cadres, they added. (With inputs from agencies)