During the search operation, as the presence of a terrorist got ascertained he was given opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed terrorist has been identified as Ab Gani Khawaja @Skinder, resident of Khawaja Mohalla Kralgund, chief of proscribed terrorist outfit Al- Badr.
As per police records, the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities besides he was main recruiter of innocent youth into terrorists ranks. Dozens of terror related and other crime cases have been registered against him in North Kashmir which include grenade blast at Bus-Stand Sopore, in which 19 civilians sustained injuries on 28-10-2019, Riffle grenade attack at Police Post Warpora, in which two Police Personnel got injured on 21-03-2019, attack upon Joint Naka Party of Police/ CRPF at Bismillah-Colony, Model-Town Sopore, in which four CRPF personnel got seriously injured and one among them while being evacuated to hospital succumbed to injuries. In the incident one civilian identified as Bashir Ahmad Khan got also killed by the bullets fired by terrorists on 01-07-2020, attack upon CRPF Naka Party at Ahad-Baba Crossing Noorbagh Sopore in which 03 CRPF Personnel were killed at 02 got seriously injured on 18-04-2020, killing of one civilian namely Danish Manzoor Najar @ Ishfaq S/O Manzoor Ahmad Najar R/O Edipora Bomai Sopore on 06-06-2020 and attack on Police Party of Police Post Warpora at Warpora Chowk, in which one SPO and one civilian were killed and one SPO got injured on 04-03-2020. He was also involved in killing of civilians and grenade attacks on Police/SFs establishments. He was also involved in providing arms and ammunition to terrorist associates for carrying out subversive activities in the area. He was operating in the areas of North Kashmir including Langate, Upper/Lower Qaziabad, Handwara, Sopore, Zainageer, Tujjar, Barahampora etc.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes.
IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar has appreciated Police and SFs for the big success in eliminating chief operational commander of proscribed terrorist outfit Al- Badr without any collateral damage.
The last rites of the killed terrorist shall be performed after conducting his medico-legal formalities and his nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
