Three terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian, one surrenders

Three newly recruited militants were killed while one surrendered on Thursday during an encounter in Shopian area of southern Kashmir. The killings took place in Kanigam village, where armed forces, acting on information regarding the presence of militants, launched a joint cordon and search operation.

The three militants killed in the encounter were identified as Danish Mir and Mohammad Umer Bhat, both residents of Khajapora, and Zaid Bashir Reshi of Reban villages of Shopian. As per police records, they were affiliated with the Al-Badr outfit. One their associates, Tauseef Ahmad, surrendered at the spot.

The police also circulated a 29-second video of Tauseef pleading with his companions to surrender. Another unverified video circulated on social media shows two civilians being sent by the forces into a shed where the militants were allegedly hiding, before the encounter started. The video shows one of the four telling the civilians that he was ready to surrender while three others, who claimed to be armed with pistols, were ready to fight.


“They were given an opportunity to surrender. Family members of the trapped terrorists were also called to the encounter site to motivate and persuade them to surrender…Tausif Ahmad ultimately surrendered and laid down his arms before the joint security forces,” read an official press release from the J&K police. Others, police said, turned down the surrender offer and fired indiscriminately at the joint search party, which was retaliated.

“All misguided youth who have joined terror ranks should shun violence and return to the mainstream as society needs them and, most importantly, their parents. We will welcome and accept them with open arms,” Inspector General of police in Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, was quoted as saying.