2 ultras eliminated in Shopian encounter

Jammu, January 22

Security forces today eliminated two terrorists belonging to a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Shopian of Kashmir.

Aide held

• Security forces arrested Umer Farooq Bhat of Awantipora, said to be an associate of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), in Pulwama district.
• Incriminating material, including a grenade, has been seized from him. He gave shelter and logistic support to militants, the police said.

Based on a specific input regarding the presence of terrorists in Kilbal village, a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched by personnel of the police, 34 RR and CRPF’s 178 Battalion.

“During the search operation, as the joint party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” read a police statement.

In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of the proscribed terror outfit were killed and their bodies retrieved from the site of the encounter. They have been identified as Sameer Ahmad Shah, a resident of Dhangam Shopian, and Rayees Ahmad Mir of Pulwama.

Both of them are said to have been part of a group involved in several terror crimes, including attacks on security personnel and civilians,” an official said. Arms and ammunition among other material have been seized.

Meanwhile, the Awantipora police, along with 55RR and CRPF’s 185Bn personnel arrested a terrorist associate linked with the Jaish-e-Mohammed. He has been identified as Umer Farooq Bhat, a resident of Renzipora, Awantipora.