Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed in an encounter with forces in Tral area of South Kashmir on Saturday.A police spokesperson told KNS that last night on a specific information police alongwith 42-Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in village Rathsuna, Tral. “During the searches militants fired upon the joint search party triggering an encounter. Two militants got killed in the ensuing encounter who have been identified as Shabeer Mir resident of Dadsara and Idrees Shah resident of Norpora,” he said.
“Shabbir @ Suhail joined militancy in 2012 and was earlier associated with LeT Qasim group and later shifted to HM and was involved in a number of attacks including attack on sarpanch of Amlar Tral besides several attacks in Pulwama area. He was an associate of Bilal Bhat of Lelhar. On 17-04-2014 he along with Reyaz Ahmad Naikoo killed a sarpanch of Gulzar Pora Mohammad Amin Pandith son of Abdul Ahad resident of Gulzar Pora. A case FIR number 35/2014 under section 302, 7/27 A Act already stands registered in Police Station Awantipora,” he said.
“On 21-04-2014 he along with Burhan killed Mohammad Anwar Sheikh son of Mohammad Sadiq resident of Amlar Tral. He was also involved in motivating the youth to join militancy and coordinating between LeT and HM. Idrees got active in 2014 and was involved in the killing of a driver Firdous Ahmad of Drussu, Pulwama. A case FIR number 135/2014 under sections 120 B and 302 RPC already stands registered in Police Station Pulwama,” he added.The bodies of the militants have been handed to their relatives for last rites.2 AK rifles, 06 AK magzines, 80 rounds, 02 pouches, HM letter pad, 01 matrix sheet and a diary was recovered from the encounter site, Police said.