Slain trio buried in Sonmarg; families attend funeral
Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, April 28 (GNS): Three militants were killed while as a major and two soldiers besides two civilians including a woman were injured as the gunfight which broke out at Melhoora area of Shopian district of south Kashmir came to an end on Wednesday.
The civilians were injured near the encounter site and one of them, a woman—Shahnaza Bano, was hit with a bullet in her both legs.
Reports reaching GNS said that the operation which was launched by a joint team of army, SOG and CRPF at Melhoora village on Tuesday evening was called off today afternoon after recovering the bodies of the slain militants.
A senior police officer said a cordon-and-search operation was launched in the area following specific inputs about the presence of some militants.
He also confirmed the recovery of the three militant bodies.
‘The operation was suspended throughout the night and resumed at first light,” he said.
In the fresh exchange of the gunfight, the only holed up militant was killed in the morning. Two others had been “neutralized” yesterday and one of the bodies was recovered then, he said.
“Two militant bodies, one from under the debris and another from beneath a veranda, were recovered today,” he said.
The officer said that in the operation one army major and a soldier suffered injuries.
Regarding injuries to the civilians near the gunfight site, he said that a woman Shahnaza Bano wife of Farooq Ahmad Koka suffered bullet wounds in her both legs and was shifted to a nearby hospital wherefrom she was referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar for specialized treatment.
Another civilian Asif Ahmad Reshi son of Nissar Reshi of Watchi, according to reports, suffered pellet wounds after police and paramilitary forces chased a group of youth near the encounter site. Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued here said that the identification of slain militants is being ascertained. “The medico-legal formalities of the slain are being done”.
“In the encounter, three security force personnel also sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospital for medical treatment,” the spokesman said.
“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, a police officer said that the slain militants were identified by the families and were affiliated with AGH outfit. According to the officer the slain trio include Deputy Chief of Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGH), Burhan Koka alias Abu Baker of Melhoora Shopian, Nasir Ahmad Bhat of Arwani Bijbehara and Bilal Ahmad Khan son of Abdul Majeed Khan of Narbal Kakpora Pulwama. The slain trio laid to rest at Sonmarg area of Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.
As per the new procedure, the funeral prayers were held in the presence of a magistrate and were participated by limited number of families of the slain trio. (GNS)
