Police along with security forces have neutralized 02 terrorists of proscribed terror outfit JeM in an anti-terrorist operation in Pulwama including killer of police personnel Martyr Ct Reyaz Ahmad.

Yesterday, at about 1745hrs, on a specific input generated by Kulgam Police regarding presence of terrorists in village Gundipora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon & search operation was launched by Pulwama Police, Army (55RR) and CRPF (182/183Bn) in the said area. During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists hidden in the residential house of Nazir Ahmad Mir son of Mohd Sultan Mir fired indiscriminately upon search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

To avoid any collateral damage due to darkness, the operation was suspended during the night hours and in the wee hours the operation was resumed. In the ensuing encounter two terrorists identified as Abid Hussain Shah son of Late Mushtaq Ahmad Shah resident of Monghama Pulwama and Saqib Azad Sofi son of Azad Ahmad Sofi resident of Amshipora Shopian were killed, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM. Their bodies were retrieved alongwith the incriminating materials including 02 AK rifles from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials from the site of encounter have been taken into case records for further investigation.

As per police records, both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SF and civilian atrocities. Pertinently, the killed terrorist Abid Shah was involved in recent killing of unarmed policeman Ct. Reyaz Ahmad at his residential house at Gadoora area of Pulwama on 13th May 2022.

IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint forces for carrying out the anti-terrorist operation in professional manner without any collateral damage. He also appreciated the joint team for tracking & neutralizing the terrorists involved in the recent killing of policeman in Pulwama.

While interacting with media, IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar said that Police have succeeded to a large extent to prevent youth from taking up the arms and are working on multi-dimensional fronts to prevent local terrorist recruitment, those who motivate and lure young boys towards terrorism are being booked under PSA. He also said that, we are also tracking new recruits through technical surveillance and bringing them back.

In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.