Srinagar, June 10: Five militants including a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed in a gunfight in Shopian district on Wednesday, police said. 14 militants including three commanders of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen have been killed in the south Kashmir district in less than three days.
“On a specific input generated by Shopian Police regarding the presence of militants in village Sugoo Handhama Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 RR and 178 battalion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesman said.
During the search operation, he said, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. “In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved, the spokesman said, adding, “The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained. However, as per credible sources the killed militants belonged to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and LeT. One of them is District Commander of (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen).”
It was the third gunfight in the last three days in which 14 militants including three top commanders were killed, 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, he said, a case under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.”
