SRINAGAR — Two local militants were killed in an encounter between government forces and militants at Rainawari area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Summer Capital, Srinagar on Wednesday.
Reports said a joint team of government forces including J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) at Rainawari 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 local Lashkar-i-Toiba (LeT) militants identified as Journalist turned militant Rayees Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Hameed Bhat from Shahbad Veeri, Bijbhera and Hilal Ahmad Rah alias Shaboo, son of Safeer Ahmad Rah from Kuthipora Waghama, Bijbehara in Anantnag district.
Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from encounter site.
Police in a statement said, “Rayees Ahmad Bhat was earlier a journalist and was running online news portal ‘Valley News Service’ in Anantnag”.
“He joined militant ranks in August 2021 & was “C” category militant in their list. 02 FIRs are already registered against him for terror crimes”, police said.
“second killed militant Hilal Ahmad Rah was “C” category militant”, the statement added. — (KIMS)