Hizb Divisional Commander, associate killed in Tral gunfight: Police

Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including the Divisional Commander were killed and two Army men, including an officer were injured in a gun-battle with Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of police in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police on Monday said.A police spokesman told that acting on specific inputs about the presence of Hizb militants, Army’s 42 RR and SOG cordoned off Koel Shikargah area of Tral last night. As the joint team launched combing and search operation, the spokesman said, militants hiding in the residential house of Muhammad Yousuf Bhat opened heavy gunfire to stop the search team.“The joint team returned the fire sparking off a brief encounter. However, the operation was suspended due to darkness but the cordon remained intact,” he added.Early this morning, the spokesman said, the exchange of fire between the holed up militants resumed. The gunfight that continued for several hours left two Hizb militants, including the outfit’s commander dead. Two Army men, including a captain were also injured in the encounter.The slain militants have been identified as Hizb’s Divisional Commander Muzaffar Ahmad Malla, son of Abdul Khaliq of Kounsarbal and his associate Suhail Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Ahmad of Dadsara, Tral. The injured Army Captain has been identified as Dass. However, reliable sources told that five troopers, including the Captain was injured in the encounter. They said condition of one of the trooper, whose identity could not be confirmed, was serious.Quoting Superintendent of Police (SP) Awantipora, Mohammad Irshad, the spokesman said that the militants were asked to surrender this morning but they paid no heed to the announcement. Instead, the militants opened fire on the forces.“Muzaffar Malla was Divisional Commander of HM for South Kashmir. He was nominated as Divisional Commander after the death of Sajjad Ahmad alias Balle on April, 5 this year,” Irshad, according to the spokesman said.Suhail Ahmad Khan, he said, had joined militancy last year and was involved in the killing of National Conference (NC) Block President, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din of Pinglish on March 30.The spokesman said that two AK 47 rifles, four magazines, fourteen rounds one UBGL (thrower), one UBGL grenade and two Chinese grenades were recovered from the encounter site.