Kulgam: A top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was among five militants killed in an encounter with government forces at Qazigund in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Saturday.
A police officer told INS that on basis of a specific information that a group of militants was seen in the area, a joint team of forces from army, CRPF and police laid a siege at Chowgam village of Qazigund late last night.
He said it took some time for the joint team of forces in evacuating the civilians from the house, where militants were hiding, as well as in the neighborhood. Later a gunfight with militants took place, in which five militants were killed. While four militants got killed inside the house, razed to rubble by the forces during the course of the gunfight, other one was killed when he came out of the house, the police officer said. As per initial reports, the police officer said the slain militants include a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Gulzar Ahmad Padder of Adijan Takiya. However, he said, identity of the militants was not fully established so far and was being ascertained. Reportedly two among other slain militants include Zahid Ahmad of Wokay Kulgam and Muzaffar Hussain of Sopot Kulgam.
Meanwhile, soon after the cordon and search operation was laid, authorities suspended internet in the south Kashmir district. The train service from Banihal to Srinagar has also been suspended by the railway authorities.
