Police in Kashmir on Saturday said that all the three militants killed in a gunfight with the security forces were affiliated with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit.
A police spokesman identified them as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir – all residents of Pulwama.
He said that the militants were given an option to surrender, but they fired indiscriminately at a joint party of the police and army, leading to a gunfight.
The official said that the operation was launched on a specific input regarding presence of militants in Zadoora area.
During the encounter, one Army soldier also received critical injuries who was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed.
The official said that the slain militants were part of groups involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area including those on police and security establishments.
“As per police records, Adil Hafiz was involved in case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to attack on naka party at Prichoo Bridge in which one police personnel was martyred and another was injured,” he said.
“Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection,” he said, “the bodies of the slain militants will be sent to Baramulla for last rites after completion of all medico-legal formalities.”
The nearest family members of the slain will be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla, said the official.
“Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition 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 crimes.”
