Two Hizbul terrorists killed in Shopian encounter

SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed during an anti-insurgency operation on Saturday in the Imam Sahib area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Based on intelligence inputs, a team of personnel from Army’s 44 RR, CRPF and J&K Police’s special operations group launched a cordon-and-search operation in Padguchi area. The holed-up terrorists opened fire at them, triggering a gunfight in which the two terrorists were killed.

Identified as Rahil Rashid Sheikh of Nunner in Ganderbal district and Bilal Ahmed from Shopian’s Keegam area, the slain terrorists were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen. Rahil (25) had completed his MTech from an institute in Haryana and had reportedly taken up arms only on April 3, sources said. He is survived by his father, who works in the state handicrafts department, two sisters and a brother.

At least 58 terrorists have been killed in the first three months of this year, during which 83 security personnel and 21 civilians have also lost their lives.