Two Jaish militants, planning to carry out attacks on civilians, killed in Sopore

Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said a major threat was averted by eliminating these terrorists

Two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants, planning to carry out attacks in north Kashmir, were killed in an anti-militancy operation of the security forces in Baramulla’s Sopore on Thursday, the J&K police said.

The duo was surrounded during a joint cordon and search operation launched by Police and Army following a specific input in Bomai village of Sopore. 

“As the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists started indiscriminate firing upon the search party, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire, one civilian received gunshot injuries who was immediately evacuated to hospital for the treatment of his injuries where his condition is stated to be stable,” the police said.

Later, the hiding militants were also killed in retaliatory fire. They have been identified as Mohammad Rafi Lone resident of Nathipora, Bomai, Sopore and Kaiser Ashraf Dar, a resident of Tujjan, Pulwama.

“Both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and instigating youth to join terror folds,” the polcie said.

According to the police, Lone had a history of terror crime cases, including grenade attack on a police party in year 2017.

“He was behind instigating and motivating gullible youth to join terror folds thereby trying to revive the terror folds in Sopore area for which he was earlier booked twice under Public Safety Act (PSA),” the police said.