Handwara encounter: Police version

Handwara police on Thursday issued a statement regarding the Ganapora Kralgund Encounter in which two LeT militants were killed.

A police statement issued reads, based on a specific input regarding the presence of militants in the orchards of the village Ganapora area of Kralgund, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Handwara Police, 32RR in the said area.

During the search operation, the presence of militants was ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, 02 militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. One militant has been identified as LeT Commander Naseer-u-din resident of Sopore and another militant from Pakistan.

The militants were affiliated with LeT. Naseer-u-din had a history of crime records and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the North Kashmir. Several crime cases were registered against him. He was involved in the killing of 3 CRPF jawans at Sopore on 18/04/2020, and 3 CRPF jawans at Handwara on 04/05/2020, besides he was also involved in other terror crime cases.

Incriminating materials including Arms & Ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Kralgund and investigation has been initiated.