Six Militants Killed In Jammu And Kashmir's Pulwama Encounter

Soon after news of the encounter spread, clashes erupted between security forces and protesters near the site.

Updated on: 22 December 2018 2:59 pm

Six militants were killed in an encounter between the police and the army in Awantipora area of Pulwama, around 40 km south of Srinagar on Saturday.

"Six terrorists have been killed in the Tral area encounter. Weapons and war-like stores have been recovered. The operation is over," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

“On a credible input about the presence of militants in Arampora area of Awantipora, a cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces in the area on Saturday morning," police spokesperson based in Srinagar told Outlook.

“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight,” he said.

A police official said arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, adding the identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are being ascertained.

The official said there was no collateral damage in the operation.

“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter.”

The six militants were affiliated with Zakir Musa led Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind militant group.

They have been identified as Soliha Mohammad Akhoon, a resident of Arampora Tral; Faisal Ahmad Khanday, a resident of Amlar; Nadeem Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Batagund, Tral; and Rasiq Mir, Rouf Mir and Umar Ramzan – all residents of Dadsara, Tral. The militant group was part of the Zakir Musa faction and was active in Pulwama district.

A former Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Zakir Musa is the head of al Qaeda-linked group Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind, which is said to have links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He is one of the most wanted terrorists who is currently operating in the valley.

Police said all the six militants were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.

“As per police records, Rasiq had a long history of terror crime records since last five years. Several terror cases were registered against him”, the police spokesman said.

“Akhoon, according to police records, also had a long history of terror crimes since 2015 and was involved in several terror attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area," the spokesman said.

Sofi and Ramzan were also involved in several terror crimes. Also, Mir and Khanday were involved in planning and executing many terror attacks in the area, the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that the citizens have been requested to not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)