Precious Kashmir News/GNS
Srinagar, Apr 4: Four Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with a joint team of the security forces in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.
Sources said that the house in which militants were hiding was was razed to rubble in the gunfight at Hardmanguri area of Khur Batpora.
The gunfight ensued after a joint team of army’s 34 RR, paramilitary CRPF and police’s SOG laid a cordon around the area in the wee hours amid “specific information” about the presence of a group of militants there.
The militants, a police officer said, were asked to lay down arms and an announcement in this regard was made through public address system. However, the officer said, the militants turned down the offer and instead started firing from the house where they were hiding. The joint team retaliated, triggering an encounter in which the militants were killed, the police officer said.
“Four militant have been killed,” the officer said, adding that one army soldier sustained minor injuries during the operation and was hospitalized.
Local reports reaching to GNS suggest extensive damage to several houses and not just the one where militants were purportedly hiding.
Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh claimed that the slain militants were responsible for recent killings in the southern Kashmir district.
“A group of Hizb militants was killing civilians over the last 12 days. Police were able to track them down today. Three militants have been killed so far,” DGP Singh said.
Two of the slain militants, the DGP said were locals while the identity of the other two is being ascertained.
“During ongoing Corona Preventive efforts, the killing of innocent civilians by mindless militants was highly barbaric and condemnable,” the DGP added.
