Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 2: A Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed and another militant has been trapped in a fierce gun fight that broke out tonight in Awantipora area of South Kashmir after security trapped two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in Chursu village.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tonight cordoned off Chursu village in Awantipora area of district Pulwama after inputs that two militants are hiding in the village.
Kumar said that two militants of HM including Riyaz Naiku of village Panzgam are trapped inside. He said that militants after getting trapped fired on the troops leading to an encounter which lasted for about 25 minutes. He said one militant has been killed and his body has not been recovered so far.
The DIG said that firing has stopped and troops have strengthened the cordon around the villages so that the other militant may not flee under the cover of darkness. He said that security forces have illuminated the area to prevent the militant from fleeing.
However, sources said that Riyaz Naiku has been killed and his associate is trapped.
In the meantime, an Army spokesman said here today that militant activities in September were overshadowed by the floods which struck Kashmir, affecting a large percentage of the population, particularly in Srinagar. “However, the month also saw a number of terrorist infiltration attempts and movement activity which were foiled by the vigilance of the Army, resulting in the elimination of 14 terrorists and apprehension of six more”, said that spokesman.
The spokesman said that in the beginning of September, even as the rains were lashing Kashmir and caused large scale flooding of parts of South Kashmir, the Army eliminated three militants in an encounter at Hanjan Bala near Shopian on September 2. “Within a week, while Srinagar was reeling under the worst floods in over a Century; four more terrorists were eliminated at Laribal near Rajwar and Pharkian on September 9 and 10.
While the situation was stabilising in Srinagar and other flood affected parts of the Valley, two terrorists were eliminated at Machhal on September 17 quickly followed by four more terrorists being eliminated at Tangdhar on September 19. Thereafter one more terrorist was eliminated at Lolab on September 30, bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated during the Month to 14. All the operations were based on specific intelligence ably supported by the local Police”, the spokesman added.
“Last month, a number of local terrorists were apprehended with the help of specific information and with help of SOG and Police. These included one member of LeT who was arrested on September 17 at Muqam, four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who were apprehended from Sopore on September 22 and 23 and one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who was arrested on September 25 at Kirpalpura”, the spokesman said.
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