In a first, two slain Hizbul terrorists test positive for coronavirus

SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who were killed in an encounter on Saturday were found to be carrying coronavirus according to their test reports which came in on Sunday. This is the first instance of any terrorist testing positive for Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The terrorists, identified as Ali Bhai alias Abu Okasha and Hilal Ahmad, were killed in an operation in Arrah in Kulgam district. Their samples were sent for examination as part of the revised medico-legal formalities, given a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Kashmir Valley, which accounts for more than 70% of the 8,429 cases in the Union territory so far.
A police spokesperson said that the test reports of the two terrorists, which were received from CD Hospital, Srinagar, confirmed that they were covid positive. They were ferried in a protective care ambulance and buried as per Covid-19 protocols in Baramulla, the spokesperson added.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the burial of slain terrorists is being carried out at designated spots to ensure the safety of citizens from an inherent risk of contracting the infection. In such cases, medico-legal formalities are strictly followed, which include an autopsy, DNA and Covid-19 tests, a statement from J&K police said.
A native of Pakistan, Ali had been active in the Kashmir Valley since 2017 and was an A++ category terrorist, sources said. The second terrorist, Hilal, was from Kulgam.