Two militants killed in Kulgam encounter test COVID-19 +ve: Police

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a foreigner, who were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Two militants who were killed on Saturday in an encounter between militants and security forces in south Kashmiri Kulgam have tested positive for novel coronavirus, police said.

A police spokesman said that while carrying out the medico-legal formalities the samples of the killed militants were taken and sent for COVID-19 test. "Today, the test reports were received from CD Hospital Srinagar and both the killed militants were confirmed as COVID-19 positive," the spokesman said.

The militants were killed in an encounter in Arrah area of Kulgam. An Army man also suffered injuries during the gunfight. Police said that among the two killed militants one was a foreigner, identified as Haider, while the other was a local whose identity was not revealed by the police.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the burial of the killed militants is carried out at designated places.

"Medico-legal formalities are strictly followed in respect of such killed terrorists which includes post-mortem, DNA and COVID-19 tests," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the dead bodies of the said killed militants shall be carried through protective care ambulance and buried strictly as per COVID-19 protocol at Baramulla.