Shopian Gunfight: Police version

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday issued a statement on an encounter in Nadigam area of Shopian in south Kashmir.

The police spokesman said that government forces on a credible input about the presence of militants in Nadigam area of District Shopian, launched a cordon and search operation in the predawn hours today.

As the search operation was going on, the search party was confronted with bullets fired by the hiding militants. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire one army jawan identified as HC Vijay of 23 Para sustained injuries and was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed.

In the ensuing encounter, four militants were eliminated and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed militants have been identified as Abid Nazir Chopan of Padarpora, Basharat Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar of Drawni and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq of Mantujan Shopian.

They were affiliated with Hizbul Mujihideen outfit and were involved in “attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area”. Incriminating materials including huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.

Police have requested the people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any.