Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 31: Security forces killed Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in a fierce gun battle in South Kashmir’s Shopian district this evening, police said here.
DIG South Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that Army and police in a joint operation killed Sajjad Ahmad Mir, Divisional Commander of HM in village Vandena in district Shopian this evening.
The DIG said that operation was launched after security forces received information about the presence of at least two militants in the South Kashmir village. He said that Shopian Police and 55 Rashtriya Rifles of the counter insurgency Victor Force of Army cordoned of the village and conducted searches during which militants fired resulting in the encounter.
Sajjad Mir son of Mohammad Yusuf Mir of Litter in South Kashmir district Pulwama was a local trained militant and was active since 2009 in South Kashmir, mostly in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts.
Mr Kumar, Commander 12 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, Brigadier Rajiv Nanda and SP Shopian, Mumtaz Ahmad were on the spot monitoring the operation.
The DIG said that one more militant is still hiding in the village and operation against him is going on. He said that cordoned around the village continues but operation has been put on hold and will be resumed at first light tomorrow.
The DIG said that area has been lightened and the cordon for the night has been strengthened so as to prevent the militant from fleeing under the cover of darkness during the night.
Police said that the villagers were first rescued before the operation was launched in the village against the militants.
Only last week Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed 4 Army personnel of 3 RR in Tral area of South Kashmir while security forces gunned down a militant during the gunbattle. The killing of the HM commander is a major success for security forces after the Tral encounter in which 4 Army personnel were killed.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Nowgam sector of North Kashmir this evening by firing on Indian posts for 4th time since last week.
An Army officer said here that Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts in Kayan bowl area of TMG sector in Nowgam. However, Indian troops exercised maximum restraint and didn’t fire back.
It may be mentioned here that this is the fourth ceasefire violation in North Kashmir since past one week and third in Nowgam sector.
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Nowgam sector on May 26. Earlier, they violated ceasefire in the sector on May 25 and 24 and in Tanghdar sector on May 24.
The General Officer Commanding Baramulla based Dagger Division; Major General V G Khandare said last week that Army has intensified its vigil along the LoC to prevent infiltration of militants into Kashmir valley. He said that large numbers of militants are waiting across the LoC in PoK ready to infiltrate.
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