Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including its ‘divisional commander’, were killed in an anti-militancy operation in Baramulla’s Sopore on Monday. Elsewhere, three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF jawans) sustained injuries in a grenade attack in south Kashmir.
A contingent of the security personnel of the police, the Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF’s 179 Battalion, 177 Battalion and 92 Battalion, gunned down the two militants in the morning during a combing operation.
A police spokesman said the two militants were trapped in Check-e-Brath area of Sopore during the search operation.
Divisional commander
“The hiding militants fired upon the joint search party, ensuing an encounter. Two militants were killed in the encounter,” said the police.
The police identified the slain militants as Pervaiz Ahmad Wani, a ‘divisional commander’ of the Hizb, and Naeem Ahmad Najar, both locals.
All schools were closed in Baramulla and Kupwara districts as “a precautionary measure”.
Two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 90 rounds, one INSAS rifle, one INSAS magazine, 13 INSAS rounds and other ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, according to the police.
“Ahmad was involved in a serial blast on mobile towers in 2015. Wani was involved in a series attacks on civilians and police,” said the police.
Wani, police said, was “also instrumental in recruiting and indoctrinating youths in north Kashmir.”
3 CRPF jawans injured
Three CRPF jawans were injured in south Kashmir’s Qazigund area on Monday afternoon when militants hurled a grenade.
A police official said the militants targeted a CRPF patrol.
“The CRPF men sustained splinter injuries in the attack and were hospitalised,” said the police.