Shopian, July 19 2021: Acting on a specific information generated by Shopian Police about presence of terrorists at village Check-i-Sidique Khan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 34 Rashtriya Rifles and 178 Battallion Central Reserve Police Force in the said area.
During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given repeated opportunities to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
"In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Rashid Dar resident of Hafshirmal Shopian a top commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT active since 2017 and Majid Iqbal Bhat son of Mohammad Iqbal Bhat resident of Melibagh Imamsahab, Shopian," told a Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson.
As per police records, both the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in various terror crime cases and several terror crime cases were registered against them.
"It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist Ishfaq Ahmad Dar was active since 2017 and figured among the list of most wanted terrorists. Besides, being part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, he was very instrumental in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments, civilian killings and misleading the gullible youth by motivating them to join terrorist folds," said the JKP PRO.
"He was also involved in killing of 04 police personnel at minority guard Zainapora on 11 December 2018, killing of two non-local drivers in Chittrigam Shopian on 24 October 2019. Moreover, on his behest two youth namely Asif Lone resident of Khudwani Kulgam and Ab Rashid Thoker resident of Hussanpora Arwani also joined the terrorist ranks," added the official.
"Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two AK-47 rifles and eight magazines were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes," the police official said.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulated joint team of Police and security forces for conducting successful operation in professional manner by neutralizing the most wanted terrorist without any collateral damage.
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 of all the explosive materials, if any," stressed the JKP.
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