Jahangir Ganaie
Anantnag, Dec 24: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter at Mominhall, Aarwani area of Bijbehara in southern district of Ananatnag on Friday, police said.
A police official said that based on a specific input regarding presence of a militant in village Mominhall Aarwani area of Bijbehara Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 1stRR and 90Bn CRPF in the said area.
“During the search operation, as the presence of the trapped militant got ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the police official said, adding that “in the ensuing encounter, one terrorist identified as Shahzad Ahmad Seh son of Bashir Ahmad Seh resident of Sehpora Kulgam was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter.”
A police spokesman in a statement to KNO said that as per police records, the killed militant was a categorized one linked with Hizbul Mujahideen and was part of groups involved in several cases. “He was involved in killings of Police Inspector Mohammad Ashraf Bhat of Chandpora Kanelwan Anantnag at his residence and three BJP workers at YK-Pora Kulgam last year. He was also involved in the killing of BJP Sarpanch and his Wife at Lal-Chowk Anantnag this year,” he said. The spokesman said that arms and ammunition including 01 AK 47 Rifle, 02 AK Magazines, 40 AK rounds and a grenade were recovered from his possession.
Defence spokesman said that one militant was killed in the Anantnag encounter and war like stores recovered while as operation was called off in the area.
