TWO HIZBUL MILITANTS KILLED IN BUDGAM ENCOUNTER

SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including one of the main recruiters of the outfit, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, on Wednesday.

This is the third encounter in the past three days in which eight total militants have been killed.

Police said a cordon and search operation was launched late Tuesday night by the special operation group of J&K police and the Indian Army in the area based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Gopalpora area of Chadoora in the district. During the search operation, security forces were fired upon by the militants. The forces fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight in which two were killed, police said. The duo was identified as Hilal Ahmad Wani and Shoaib Mohammad Lone alias Mursi, both residents of south Kashmir. Police spokesman said both the militants were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen and were wanted for many militancy related crimes.

According to them, Hilal Wani had a long history of militancy and crime records and was the main person responsible for recruitment of youths into militancy. The bodies were handed over to the respective family after completion of medico-legal formalities.