HM militant killed in Anantnag

Troops at the site of encounter at Aarwani in Anantnag on Friday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar
Troops at the site of encounter at Aarwani in Anantnag on Friday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 24: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter at Mominhall, Aarwani area of Bijbehara in Anantnag today.
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 90 Bn CRPF in the 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 spokesman 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.”
He 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 one AK 47 rifle, two AK magazines, 40 AK rounds and a grenade were recovered from his possession.
In the meantime, a grenade was found today near Iqra Masjid Magharmal Bagh, Srinagar during soil filing. The grenade was defused by the bomb disposal squad.