Jammu and Kashmir Police on tuesday said that one of the two militants killed in Padgampora Awantipora Encounter was behind the killing of Kashmiri Pandith Sanjay Kumar Nath in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on weekend.

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Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency GNS, that one militant had also taken refugee in the mosque and was tactfully neutrailised without any damage to the mosque.

‘Extreme caution and limited firepower was used in view of the sacred precincts. Civilians praying inside were also evacuated on time preventing any collateral damage,’ he said, adding, ‘Resuming the search for the second militant who had holed up inside a bathroom of an adjacent building, again caution was exercised and 14 civilians were rescued from the place before he was neutralized,’.

The Killed militants, he said, have been identified as Aqib Mushtaq Bhat of Malangpora, Pulwama (A Category) associated with HM and for past few months working with LeT (TRF)and Aijaz Ahmad Bhat of Syedabad Pastuna Tral (C-Category) associated with JeM and also working in coordination with HM and LeT.

Aqib was active since January 2021 and Aijaz was active since May 2022, the officer said.

He said that police have been successful in neutralizing the killer of Sanjay Kumar within short period of time.

Divulging the details regarding the encounter, the ADGP said that based on specific information about the presence of militants, a joint cordon and search operation was launched.

He said that as soon as police and security forces reached the target area, the hiding militants opened fire, leading to an encounter.

‘We have also lost brave soldier during the gunfight, the officer added.

He said 1 AK-47 rifle, 1AKS-74u rifle, 1 pistol, 2 grenades, 2 pouches, 5 AK magazines, 2 pistol magazines and 2 AADHAAR cards.

Investigation so far revealed that both the militants, although joined through different militant organisations, had come together to conspire and attack minorities, outsiders, other vulnerable targets and security forces, the officer said.

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They were involved in FIR No. 14/2023 PS Litter (recent killing of Kashmir Pandit Sanjay Pandita at Achan), FIR No 82/2022 PS Pulwama (attack of 2 outsider labourers at Lajoora), FIR no 115/2022 PS Tral (weapon snatching attempt), FIR No 76/2022 PS Tral (OGW module which supported them for grenade lobbing) among many other cases, the officer added.