Sopore : On a specific input provided by Kupwara police regarding presence of militants in Nathipora area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 22RR and CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
As per Police press release, In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT outfit were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as a local militant Wasim Ahmed Lone resident of Hatlangoo Sopore and a foreign militant Hamas alias Asrar alias Saria who was active since March 2018 in North Kashmir.
As per police records, both the killed militants were part of groups involved in several crimes including planning and executing of attacks on security establishments. Moreover, killed militant Hamas was also the mastermind of Sopore incident along with militant Mudasir Pandit @Maaz dated 29/03/2021 in which two Municipal Councillors and a policeman got killed.
Arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle, 01 Insas rifle & other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Further search is in progress.
The last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities and the nearest family members of local terrorist shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.
In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any.
