Two terrorists killed in Srinagar’s Danmar area in encounter

The encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Danmar area of Srinagar in the wee hours.

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Srinagar: Two unidentified terrorists were killed in a joint operation carried out by Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Danmar area of Srinagar. 

Acting on specific information by Srinagar Police about presence of terrorists in Alamdar Colony Danmar area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and CRPF in the said area.

During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given repeated opportunities to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter in the wee hours.

In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT (self-claimed TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Sofi son of Nazir Ahmad Sofi and Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Natipora, Srinagar and active since December 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that recently self-claimed terrorist outfit TRF shared on social media that terrorists Irfan and Bilal had left TRF and joined ISJK.

As per police, both the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crimes cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. Both the killed terrorists executed a series of attacks on policemen, SFs and civilians which include killing of PSO of PDP leader at Natipora on Dec 14, 2020, attack on ROP of CRPF 73BN in Lawaypora resulting in martyrdom of 2 CRPF Jawans on 25/03/2021, Moreover, on 17/06/2021 they attacked & martyred an on-leave police official Ct Javid Ahmad near his residence at Saidpora and on 22/06/2021 attacked & martyred Inspector Parvez Ahmad at Menganwari Nowgam while he was on his way to offer prayers in local Masjid. They were also involved in killing of a civilian Umer Nazir Bhat at his shop in Main Chowk Habba Kadal on 23/06/2021.

It is pertinent to mention that they were also involved in a series of grenade attacks as well as petrol bomb attacks on Police/SF in City Srinagar. On 07/05/2021, they carried out a grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Nawabazar area of Srinagar in which 5 CRPF jawans and a civilian got injured.  On 26/06/2021, they carried out another grenade attack on joint party of Police/CRPF at Barbarshah in which one civilian got killed and 3 civilians got critically injured. They also carried out grenade attack on PP Urdu Bazar on 05/03/2021 and petrol bomb attack on bunker of SSB at Mehjoor Nagar Band on 26/04/2021.

Both the slain terrorists have been instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror folds in Srinagar and its adjoining areas.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 pistol and 4 grenades were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

IGP Kashmir said that during the year 2021, so far 78 terrorists have been neutralized in Kashmir valley and most of the terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT i.e, 39 out of 78, followed by HM, Al-Badr, JeM and AuGH.

In this connection, Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.