Shopian Gunfight; Police Version

SRINAGAR 07 OCT: Two militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces in the Sugan area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district were affiliated with Al Badr and Hizbul Mujahedeen outfits, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said that on October 6, 2020, at about 1900hrs, based on specific input about the presence of militants in the village Sugan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 178BN CRPF in the said area.
The spokesman in a statement said that during the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender however instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“Due to darkness the operation was suspended and the whole area was put under strict cordon. Militants trapped inside made certain attempts to break the cordon and escape from the spot,” said the spokesman.
“In the wee hours, the operation was resumed and in the ensuing encounter three militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain militants have been identified as Sajad Ahmad Malla resident of Madera Shopian affiliated with proscribed outfit HM, Junaid Rashid Wani resident of Tumlahal Pulwama, and Waseem Ahmad Magray resident of Chakoora affiliated with proscribed outfit Al-Badr,” he said.
“As per police records, the slain militants were part of groups involved in planning and executing several attacks including civilian atrocities and attacks on security establishments,” he added.
The spokesman said that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes.
“Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the slain militants shall be sent to Handwara for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the militants shall be allowed to participate in the last rites,” said the spokesman.
“In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated,” he said.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said the spokesman.