SRINAGAR: Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora area of South Kashmir while a police officer’s residence was attacked and his son and nephew briefly abducted by militants in Central Kashmir of Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP), S P Valid told Express that a police party including SP, ASP and others was fired upon by militants travelling in a car at Padgampora village in Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district this afternoon.
He said the police men swiftly returned the fire and in the brief exchange of fire, two militants were killed while another escaped. “Bodies of two militants were recovered from the maruti car bearing registration number JK13A-0764 ”.
Vaid said it seems that the militants had prior information about movement of the police officers.
Another police officer said the police officers were returned after a meeting with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) during which preparedness by April 12 bypolls to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat were reviewed.
He said an AK-47 and an SLR rifle and other ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.
The SLR recovered was snatched by militants from a police picket set up for security of Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama on October 8, last year
The slain militants were identified as Farooq Hurra and Shahbaz Ahmad Wani alias Rayees Kachroo, both residents of South Kashmir. Hurra hailed from Shopian district and Kachroo from Pulwama district.
Police sources said both had joined militancy last year.
Meanwhile, a group of militants forced their entry into residence of jail superintendent of Baramulla jail, Abdul Samad at Hafru village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Police sources said the militants were looking for Samad, who, however, was not present at the house. “The militants told the family members that they had come to kill him because he was not showing any leniency to the detainees at his jail in Baramulla”.
“After finding that the jailer was not present at his home, the militants ransacked the house. They took away his son Ashiq and nephew Bilal alongwith them and drove away in the police officer’s private vehicle,” they said.
The militants, they said, released the duo after travelling some distance. “The militants drove away with the police officer’s vehicle and later set it on fire”.
It was the second such incident this month.
Earlier, militants had barged into the residence of a DySP in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district and warned his family members to make him quit or be prepared for severe consequences.
DGP S P Vaid said police have started investigations into militant attack on police officer’s residence.
He said police have got some clues and they are following that. “Some arrests are likely to take place”.
Vaid said stern action would be taken against those involved in the incident.
Asked whether attacks on residences of police officers will hit police morale, DGP said, “Police morale is high. Such attacks won’t impact police morale.”