Encounter in J-K: Amid the ongoing encounter in Shopian district, one LeT-linked terrorist was killed by the security forces on Friday. Acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Chotigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the wee hours by the Police, Army (34RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in the said area.
During the search operation, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, a terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. He has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat resident of Chek Cholan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT.
"Encounter has started at Chotigam area of #Shopian district. Shopian Police, Army & CRPF are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice (Sic)," Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X.
About the killed LeT terrorist
As per police records the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including the killing of local army personnel namely Umer Fayaz, hurling grenades upon non-local labourers in Hermain, resulting in on on-the-spot death of two labourers. He was also involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit namely Sunil Kumar Bhat and injuring other Kashmiri Pandit Pretimber Nath, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. He was also involved in the attack on local Bal Krishan, a resident of Chotigam. Moreover, he was involved in instigating local youth to join terrorist ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of terrorists. Besides other terror crimes, he was also involved in the killing of an arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in the year 2022.
Police file a case
Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including one AK series rifle, and three magazines were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. In this regard, the Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated.
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