Police says ‘bodies handed over to locals’
Srinagar, Apr 30 (KNS): Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants including a top commander Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias Sameer Tiger and a civilian Shahid Ahmad Dar, aged 25, son of Mohd Ashraf Dar resident of Arihal Pulwama were killed during exchange of fire in a gunfight In Drubgam village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Reports said a joint party of 44RR, 182/183 CRPF along with Pulwama Police carried out searches at Drubgam village in District Pulwama but the militants fired upon the search party during the searches which was retaliated by the forces triggering an encounter.
In the exchange of fire between the militants and the forces personnel deployed for searches two militants who were trapped inside the cordon were killed and have been identified as Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias Sameer Tiger son of Mohd Maqbool Bhat a resident Drubgam Village, and the other one as Aqib Mushtaq Khan son of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, a local resident of Rajpora Pulwama.
Police in a statement issued after the gunfight said, Sameer was earlier recruited as an OGW by militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen after passing Class 8th as he had discontinued his education due to lack of interest in studies. He was involved in several stone pelting incidents prior to his militant activities. He, the police statement said, was active in the area since May 2016 and had remained part of several cases of civilian atrocities in the area.
Police statement said, the other militant identified as Aqib Mushtaq Khan was active since July 2017. He, police statement said, also had plotted several attacks on the security establishments in South Kashmir along with Sameer Tiger and was closely associated with him after joining the militant ranks.
Police further said that the bodies of both the slain militants have been retrieved from the site of encounter and 2 AK 47 rifles and other incriminating material have also been seized.
The civilian killed in the cross fire has been identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar, aged 25, son of Mohd Ashraf Dar resident of Arihal Pulwama. Though many people were reported injured during the gunfight but the condition of all injured is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police took to social networking site and said “In Drabgam Pulwama encounter today morning in a joint operation two HeM terrorists killed including top commander Samir Tiger who was involved in number of civilian killings. It should bring peace in the area.” (KNS)