Militant, three aides killed in Shopian

SRINAGAR: Four people including a militant were killed in a shootout with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday night, the army said. It said a mobile check post of the security forces at Pohan in Shopian was fired upon around 8pm, sparking a gunfight. “In a retaliatory operation, one terrorist was neutralised,” said Srinagar-based army spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

Four people including a militant were killed in a shootout with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday night, the army said.

It said a mobile check post of the security forces at Pohan in Shopian was fired upon around 8pm, sparking a gunfight. “In a retaliatory operation, one terrorist was neutralised,” said Srinagar-based army spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

He said three over-the-ground workers or accomplices who were accompanying the militant in a car were also found to be dead. The militant was identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar, a resident of Jamnagri, Shopian. Kalia said that a weapon had been found with him.

Kashmir inspector general of police, SP Pani, said that prima facie it seems that the people were travelling in a Maruti Suzuki Swift car when the army’s mobile check post received some firing to which they retaliated. “We have found a militant dead along with three more dead individuals who were apparently travelling in the car. We are ascertaining the circumstances of what happened and have started legal proceedings,” Pani said.

On Thursday, a Lashkar-eTaiba militant was gunned down in an encounter with security forces at Hajin in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.