ANANTNAG — Two militants affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit were killed in an encounter that broke out between government forces and militants at Hangalgund area of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday.
Reports said a joint team of government forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) at Hangalgund area of Kokernag 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 affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit were killed and they have been identified Junaid Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat from Hangalgund Kokernag and Basit Ashraf Wani, son of Ashraf Ahmad Wani from Danwethpora Kokernag.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
As per police records, both the militants were categorized militants and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.
According to police statement, “the killed militant Basit Ashraf was active since Year-2021 and was involved in several terror crime cases including killing of Sarpanch of Redwani Kulgam Gh Rasool Dar and his wife Jawahira at Mehman Mohalla Anantnag on 09/08/2021.”
The statement said, “the killed militant Junaid Ahmad was A+ categorized militant and active since Year-2018. He had also a long history of terror crime cases including attack on NC leader Syed Tauqeer Ahmad at Hiller Anantnag on 14/07/2019 in which one police personnel SgCt Reyaz Ahmad attained martyrdom and two other police personnel got injured. Besides, he was also involved in killing of police personnel SgCt Manzoor Ahmad on 19/04/2020 at Bahi Kokernag.”
“Both the killed militants were also involved in recruiting innocent/gullible youth into terror folds in District Anantnag and its adjoining areas,” the statement said. — (KIMS)