Srinagar, June 21: Police and security forces have killed 04 local militants including killer of slain SI Farooq Ahmad in two anti-militancy operations carried out in Pulwama and Sopore on Tuesday, Police said.

In a statement issued here, a Police spokesman said that in Pulwama, acting on specific information input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in village Tujjan, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (53RR) & CRPF (183Bn) in the said area. During the search operation, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, 02 militants of proscribed militant outfit JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Abid Ahmad Sheikh resident of Barpora Pulwama and Majid Nazir Wani resident of Banpora Ladoo Pampore.

As per police records, both the killed militants were part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, the killed militant Majid Nazir Wani was also involved in the killing of SI Farooq Ahmad.

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Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.

Similarly in Sopore, based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Tulibal area of Sopore, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (52RR) and CRPF in the said area.

During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 02 militants of proscribed militant outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Zahid Ahmad Chopan resident of Tengwani Shopian and Mohd Youns Gul resident of Washbugh Pulwama.

As per police records, both the killed militants had joined militant ranks recently.

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Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 02 AK-47 rifles & 04 Magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.

IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint teams for carrying out the anti-militancy operations in professional manner without any collateral damage. He also appreciated the joint team for tracking & neutralizing the militants involved in the recent killing of police officer in Pulwama.

Regarding both the incidents, Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the areas are completely sanitized and cleared off of all the explosive materials, if any.