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2 HM militants killed in Padgampora: Police

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/26/2017 11:43:01 PM

SRINAGAR, Mar 26: Police today said two militants of Hizb-ul Mujahideen were killed in a brief encounter at Padgampora in Pulwama this afternoon.
Addressing a press conference Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani said a police party was on way from Pulwama to Awantipora. “A group of militants boarding a Maruti car bearing registration number JK13A-0764 fired upon police party near Padgampora which was retaliated,” he said.
IGP added that during the exchange of fire between the militants and the police party, two militants were killed.
“The militants were identified as Shahbaz Shafi Wani alias Rayees son of Mohammed Shafi resident of Beloo Rajpora Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad Hurrah son of Ghulam Ahmad Hurrah resident of Naizneenpora Shopian,” he added.
Both of them belonged to Hizb-ul Mujahideen. The bodies have been handed over to the legal heirs for last rites, he said. “AN AK rifle, an SLR, 1 AK magazine, 2 SLR magazines, 2 pouches and a grenade was recovered from the SPO,” he added.
The recovered SLR was the same which was looted on October 8 from Tumhal minority picket in Pulwama. Further investigation in this connection is going on.
Reports said the encounter occurred when the two militants tried to ambush a police party that included three officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police.
A cavalcade of Senior Superintendents of Police of Pulwama and Awantipora Raees Ahmed and Zahid Malik was going along with the district's additional Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli.
"The militants, travelling in a vehicle, were challenged at a 'naka' (checkpost) set up by security forces in Padgampora area of Pulwama, but instead of giving themselves up, started firing at the security personnel triggering a brief gunfight in which both were killed,” a police officer said.
Last night, militants carried out two attacks on police forces, pushing the state on high alert days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit and the upcoming parliamentary by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the police, the militants said they wanted to kill the officer who is currently posted at the Baramulla district jail, where terrorist-turned separatist leader Masarat Alam is lodged.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit Jammu and Kashmir on April 2 for the inauguration of Chenani-Nashri tunnel.