Hizb Comdr among 3 militants killed in Shopian

Srinagar: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including its Battalion commander were killed in an overnight encounter with a joint team of police and Army in Shopian district of South Kashmir.

Reports and officials told Press Bureau of India on Thursday that acting on specific information about the presence of militants; Army’s 44 and 53 Rashtriya Rifles joined by the personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of police last evening laid a siege around Chewan village in Kellar area of the district.

As the joint team started advances, reports said the militants hiding in the residential house of Manzoor Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone at lone Mohalla, opened heavy fire on the search party. The search team returned the fire triggering off fierce encounter. In the exchange of fire that continued throughout the night, three Hizb militants were killed. The residential house of Lone was completely damaged in the encounter while another house suffered partial damages.

The slain militants have been identified as Battalion Commander, Jehangir Ahmad, alias Jana Khan, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Hajam of Keller, Abu Sikander and Abu Umer alias Waleed, both residents of Rajouri. Three AK assault rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

“Three Hizb militants, including its Battalion commander of the Pir Panjal regiment were killed in the overnight encounter by police and Army in Chewan village. Some arms and ammunitions’ have also been recovered.” Superintendent of Police (SP) Shopian, Shahid Meraj told .