Soldier, Hizb trio killed in Pulwama encounter

SRINAGAR: Three

Hizbul Mujahideen

terrorists and an Army jawan were killed in an anti-terror operation at Zadoora area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday.


The slain ultras — identified as Pulwama residents Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir — had a long criminal history and were part of groups involved in planning and carrying out numerous terror attacks in the area, including on police and

security establishments

. Adil was also wanted for an attack on a naka (check post) party at Prichoo Bridge in which a cop was killed and another injured, police said in a statement.

Based on intelligence inputs, a joint team of Army’s 50RR, CRPF’s 180 and 183 Bn, and J&K Police launched a cordon-and-search operation in Zadoora in the morning. “During the operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given the opportunity to surrender but the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at the security forces, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the statement said. In the fire exchange, the Hizb trio was killed while a soldier sustained critical injuries. The injured, Sepoy Prashant Kumar Sharma, was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed, police said.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of the encounter and taken into case records for further investigation.

In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the bodies of the slain terrorists will be sent to

Baramulla

for burial after the completion of medico-legal formalities. Their immediate family members will be allowed to participate in the last rites there, police said.