J&K Police: Foreign militant among 4 killed in Srinagar encounter

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said a foreign militant was among four people killed in an encounter in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar on Monday evening.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Kashmir Vijay Kumar said on Tuesday that a local associate of the foreign militant, an over-ground worker (OGW) and a building owner were the other fatalities.

Kumar pointed out that the building owner, Altaf Ahmed, was killed in the crossfire. He identified the foreign militant as Haider. Kumar said the OGW, Mudasir Ahmed, had provided his rented space to Haider for use as a "militant hideout".

"Police, CRPF and the Army laid a cordon and when the suspected spot was zeroed in on, militants fired indiscriminately at the forces," he said.

In the ensuing encounter, Haider and his local associate, who was thought to be a resident of Banihal in Jammu, were killed. "We have called a family from Banihal to identify the slain," Kumar said.

Referring to Altaf Ahmed, Kumar said "It is not sure whether he was hit by the bullets fired by forces or militants. Militants were carrying pistols and it would be clear after investigations whose bullet hit him."

Kumar said Mudasir was "harbouring militants and was also involved in ferrying Haider from the recent attack site of Jamalata, Srinagar, where a policeman was injured".

"He was also involved in ferrying militants from south and north Kashmir areas," Kumar said, noting Mudasir was also running a call centre.

He said the body of the building owner was not handed over for burial to his family due to apprehensions of law and order problems.

Kumar said people get in touch with the police before renting out their spaces and get the tenant's background verified from police.

Asked whether police had clear evidence of Mudasir being involved in "harbouring militants", the IGP said that police had digital evidence and once they will get further proof, it would be shared with media.

He said two pistols, two magazines and six cell phones were recovered from the encounter site.

He also announced the formation of a special investigation team (SIT), headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG), to probe the modus operandi of the high-tech hideout at Hyderpora as many mobile phones and computers were recovered. The team will also investigate the sequence of events that led to killing of the building owner and the militant's associate.