SRINAGAR: Two LeT terrorists, one involved in the killing of civilians and the other responsible for the gunning down of a probationary police sub-inspector, were shot dead by security forces in separate encounters in Kashmir on Friday, the police said. The terrorist believed to have killed the SI was shot dead in Bemina, in the heart of Srinagar.
Shahid Basir Sheikh of Srinagar was killed in an encounter that began in Pulwama at about 5.30 pm, IGP (Kashmir zone) Vijay Kumar said. He was told to surrender but chose to open fire and was killed when the forces retaliated.
The terrorist killed in Bemina’s Hamdaniya Colony was identified by the police as Tanzeel Nabi Sofi (26)of Srinagar’s Haba Kadal. The IGP said in a tweet that Sofi was the “killer of sub-inspector Arshid Ahmad”.

According to the police, the Pulwama encounter began after a joint team of the police, Army’s 50 RR and CRPF had launched a cordon-and-search operation on specific information about the presence of terrorists in Wahibugh area. “He was involved in recent #killing of #civilian (Mohd Safi Dar, PDD Deptt’s staff) on 2/10/21. AK-47 rifle was used in his killing. One AK rifle along with Mag/Amm recovered (sic), the police tweeted.

The Bemina encounter began when police and CRPF personnel encircled the spot where they suspected the terrorists were hiding.
The police said both men had recently become terrorists.
IGP (Kashmir zone) Kumar claimed the two slain terrorists were also collaborators in the recent killings of a chemist and two teachers in Srinagar. Incriminating material, including 2 AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, have been recovered from the encounter sites.
A total of eight 8 encounters have taken place in Kashmir valley from October 8 to Friday and 11 terrorists have been killed in that period.