August 02: On a credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Panduchan area of District Shopian.

During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire one army Jawan identified as Sepoy Rambir Singh of 34 RR sustained gunshot injuries who was evacuated to hospital for treatment however he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom. We pay our rich tributes to the martyr for the supreme sacrifices made in the line of duty.

In the ensuing encounter, so far dead body of one terrorist has been retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed terrorist has been identified as Zeenat ul Islam Naikoo resident of Memandar Shopian.
Zeenat as per the police records was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM and was wanted by law for his complicity in series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
According to the police records, he was part of groups involved in planning & executing series of terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. Zeenat has a long history of terror crime records and several terror crime cases were registered against him including Case FIR No. 195/2018 pertaining to attack on P/S Shopian, Case FIR No. 268/2019 pertaining to the abduction of one civilian namely Shakoor Ahmad, Case FIR No. 281/2019 pertaining to the killing of 04 Policemen in Shopian, Case FIR No. 304/2018 pertaining to arson and burning of Panchayat Ghar at Kanjiullar, Case FIR No. 318/2018 pertaining to the grenade attack on PS Shopian and killing of one policeman, Case FIR No. 343/2018 pertaining to firing on Army Camp at Matribugh, Case FIR No. 344/2018 pertaining to firing on police camp at Gagran, Case FIR No. 352/2018 pertaining to firing on patrol party of security forces at Memandar, Case FIR No. 378/2018 pertaining to attack on PS Shopian, Case FIR No. 11/2019 pertaining to grenade attack and firing on police camp at Gagran and Case FIR No. 45/2019 pertaining to the abduction and killing of one civilian namely Tanveer Ahmad.
Dead body of the killed terrorist has been handed over to the family members after completion of medico-legal formalities.

Incriminating material including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Search in the area is still in progress.

People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.