Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7: A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was among five militants killed in an encounter at Reban village of district Shopian in South Kashmir today.
The encounter started at Reban village early this morning after security forces including Army, police and CRPF cordoned the village following inputs about presence of militants.
As the security forces zeroed in on a suspected house, the hiding militants fired at them triggering a gun-battle. In the initial exchange of fire that last for a few hours, three militants were killed. Two more militants were killed later.
Four of them have been identified as Ishtiaq Itoo of Hangalbuch Kulgam, Adil Mir of Suooch Kulgam, Bilal Bhat of Harduhangan Kulgam and Owais Malik of Arwani Kulgam. They had joined militancy in May 2016, April 2020, March 2020 and April 2018 respectively.
The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said that the as per credible sources the killed militants belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and one among them is believed to be a top commander.
He 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 terror crimes”, he said.
Kumar complimented police and security forces for clean operation as collateral damage occurred during encounter.
A case has been registered in Police Station Zainapora and investigation initiated.
This is another success for the security forces against militants in Kashmir and so far this year 90 militants including top commanders have been killed.
Security forces continue their operations against the militants despite COVID-19 lockdown.
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