Indian Army Deserter Among Two Hizbul Militants Killed in Shopian Encounter

Idrees, who was posted in the Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) unit, had gone "missing" in April.

Srinagar: The security forces on Tuesday gunned down two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district. The slain terrorists include an Army soldier who joined the terror group.

The slain ultras have been identified as Mohammad Idrees Sultan alias Chota Abrar, a resident of Safanagri Shopian and Amir Hussain Rather alias Abu Sobaan, a resident of Awneera Shopian.

Idrees, who was posted in the Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) unit, had gone “missing” in April. Later, it was found that he joined the terror outfit.

“They were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM and were involved in terror attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area,” a police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Sultan was a deserter from the Indian Army and had joined the militant ranks in April this year.

“No collateral damage took place during the operation,” he said.

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were seized from the site of the encounter, he said.

Police have registered a case and initiated investigation into the matter, he said.

He appealed to the people not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can be dangerous due to stray explosive materials.

“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” the spokesperson said.