 S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, Mar 18: Two foreign militants were killed in an encounter with police and security forces here in Handwara area of north Kashmir on Friday morning
A top police official told Early Times that, "on Thursday late evening there were inputs about the presence of militants in Beigh Mohalla of Waderbala area of Handwara Tehsil.
"On a tip of information about the presence of 2-3 foreign militants in the area, a joint team of Army's 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police cordoned off the whole area and started search operation during the midnight of March 17 in Waderbala, in the jurisdiction of Police Station Handwara, the official said.
The official said that, "The hiding militants were told to surrender but they fired upon the security forces triggering an encounter in which the two militants were killed around 2:40 am on Friday morning.
"A huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, including two AK- 47 rifles, 6 AK magazines, 4 UBGL, 46 AK rounds, 2 maps, 2 Radio sets, 2 pouches and a diary.
However the official said the identity of the slain militants was not ascertained yet, but it seems that they were foreigners.
Meanwhile sources said that, on Thursday late evening the militants attacked an army patrolling party of 21 RR in Waderballa area.
In the night long encounter, there was an exchange of fire from both the side, after which two militants were killed in the wee hours of Friday morning, said sources.
Sources further said that, "The militants were believed to be foreigners, adding that they were buried at the local graveyard by police with the help of local Auqaf committee in Handwara area. |
