Three Hizbul militants gunned down in Shopian encounter

SRINAGAR : Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gun battle with the security forces in Shopian district on Monday, police said.

The encounter started when security forces received information about the presence of militants in a residential area in Shopian’s Gatipora area.

When the hiding militants were challenged by the security men, they fired at them, which triggered an encounter.

The militants killed included Zahid, the chief recruiter of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kashmir valley, an official said.

The other two have been identified as Irfan and Ashif, he added.

A police spokesperson confirmed the killing of three militants, and said the encounter was still on.

Initial reports said three to four militants were hiding in a house Shopian’s Gatipora area. MILITANTS KILL JCO IN J&K’S BUDGAM Separatist guerrillas gunned down an army officer in Budgam district on Monday. Junior commissioned officer (JCO) Raj Kumar was killed in Drung village when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, the sources said. As the cordon was being tightened, the hidden militants opened fire injuring Raj Kumar who later succumbed to his injuries,” an officer said.

(with agency inputs)