KULGAM — Active since 5 years in South Kashmir, Pakistani militant is among two militants killed in an encounter between government forces and militants at Khurbatpora village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday evening.
Reports said a joint team of government forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) at Khurbatpora village following the inputs about presence of militants in the area.
They said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
In the encounter, two militants were killed and they have been identified as Jameel Pasha @ Usman Chacha, a Pakistani militant affiliated with proscribed with militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and a hybrid militant Sameer Ahmad Sofi, son of Farooq Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Amshipora, Shopian.
Two police personnel were also injured during the exchange of fire. They have been evacuated to Army’s Base Hospital in Srinagar for treatment where their condition is said to be stable.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK47 rifle, 03 AK47 Magazine, 36 AK 47 rounds, 01 Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine, 05 Pistol rounds, 01 Grenade catch 86P, 01 BP Pouch and 01 weapon Oil Bottle were recovered from encounter site.
Police in a statement said, “On 11.04.2022, based on specific input generated by Kulgam Police regarding movement of militants in a vehicle on Manzgam-Aharbal axis, a special joint team of Police & Army was constituted. At about 1750hrs, a three-wheeler vehicle (Tempo) was spotted near Khur-Batpora moving in suspicious conditions which was chased and challenged. However, the militants travelling in the suspected vehicle jumped out and resorted to indiscriminate firing towards the joint team of forces. The militants’ fire was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter”.
“As per police records, the killed militant Jameel Pasha was active since 05 years in Kulgam-Shopian belt and had a history of terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SF, abduction of forces personnel, civilian atrocities, IED attacks, weapon looting”, the statement added.
“Besides, he was also instrumental in recruitment of gullible youth into terror folds. It is pertinent to mention that the killed militants were part of the group that escaped after a brief gunfight in Chaki Samad area of Kulgam on 09.04.2022”, the statement ends.