Earlier on a specific input, the joint team of Army, CRPF and Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area during which they came under heavy fire from the hiding militants.
Police said “utmost precautions were taken” to ensure no damage was done to the Mosque as militants were hiding in a separate structure.
The slain were identified as Shahid Ahmed Khan son of Mohi-ud-din Khan, a resident of Batpora, Pulwama and Fayaz Sheikh son of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh resident of Shahpora, Ganderbal.
Shahid, a resident of Naina Batpora went missing on 23 August 2021, after he left his home to play cricket. “He was fond of playing cricket and had made his name in this entire area for his batting skills,” his father had told The Kashmiriyat.
Shahid’s family had filed a missing report in the concerned Police station and issued a video on 25 August, 2021 appealing him to return home.
Fayaz Sheikh son of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, a resident of Shahpora, Ganderbal had gone missing from his home on 16th February this year.
“During the search operation as the presence of militants holed up in a separate structure nearby a local Mosque got ascertained they were given ample opportunities to surrender and repeated appeals were made to them, instead, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party leading to an encounter,” the Police spokesman said.
He said that keeping in view the sanctity of the Mosque, the joint team exercised maximum restraint to ensure no damage to it and two Army personnel sustained splinter injuries during the encounter.
“Both the injured were evacuated to the hospital where their condition is stated to be stable,” Police said.
