October 12:`On a specific input of Srinagar Police regarding presence of terrorists in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Srinagar Police and CRPF in the said area.

During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender after evacuating all civilians. However they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed terrorists have been identified as top LeT Commander Saifullah (a Pakistani National) and Irshad Ahmed Dar @ Abu Usama resident of Pulwama who was active since May-2019 and involved in several civilian killings and attacks on Police/SFs.

As per police records, terrorist Saifullah infiltrated earlier this year and since two months shifted his base from north to south Kashmir. He was involved in planning & executing several major terror attacks on security forces which includes killing of a CRPF officer at Chadoora on 24/09/2020 and 02 CRPF personnel at Kandizal area of Pampore on 05/10/2020. He was also part of the group involved in killing of two police personnel at Nowgam Srinagar on 14/08/2020. Besides, he was also involved in firing on convoy on 21/09/2020 in Nowgam area.

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

Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed terrorists shall be sent to Baramulla for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed local terrorist shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.

In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.

DGP J&K, IGP Kashmir and IG CRPF appreciated the role of Police and CRPF for conducting operation without any collateral damage.

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