May 10: On a basis of credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched today morning at Ram Nagri area of Herpora in District Shopian.

During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to a brief exchange of fire.

In the brief exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and he has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar son of Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Model Town-B, Sopore.

According to the Police records, Ishfaq had a long history of terror crime records and was initially affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HuM. He along with his other terrorist associates were involved in series of terror crimes including grenade attacks on CRPF bunker at Safa Kadal, Soura and Police Station Khanyar. He was also part of groups which had carried out attacks on security establishments in the area.

Ishfaq was subsequently arrested and after his release on bail, he again got recycled and joined the terror ranks last year in 2018.

Ishfaq, as per the police records, after getting recycled again got involved in planning and executing terror attacks. He was also involved in attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area for which several terror crime cases were registered against him. As such he was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of terror crimes.



Incriminating material including arms & ammunition has been recovered from the killed terrorist.

Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.