Top Hizb Commander Among 5 Militants Killed In Shopian: Police

Srinagar: Five militants have been killed in an ongoing gunfight with government forces in Reben area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday.
“On a specific input generated by Shopian Police, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, 1 RR and 178 Bn CRPF in Reban area,” a police spokesman said.
He said during the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter, 05 militants were killed and their bodies have been retrieved from the site of encounter.”
The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained, he said. “However as per credible sources the killed militants belonged to (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen) outfit and one among the killed is believed to be a top commander.”
In case any family claims the killed militants to be their kith or kin can come forward for the identification, the spokesman said.
“Incriminating material including arms and 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 crimes.”
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated.