S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, June 28: A Divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit was killed today in an encounter in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
A senior police official told Early Times that, one militant was killed today in an encounter between security forces and holed up militants in Nagri area of this district.
"On a tip of about the presence of militants in the Nagri area, a joint team of Army, Police and SOG cordoned off the whole area and took search operation, the holed up militants fired several gun shots upon the security forces which triggered of encounter from both the sides, the official said.
The official said that the encounter started at 6 am which was continued till 9 am, after which the whole area was sensitised.
Security forces had surrounded a residential house in the village following information about a group of militants hiding there, the official said.
However sources from the area identified the slain militant as Sameer Ahmed Wani, Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) from whose procession one AK- 47 rifle and other items were also recovered.
"Drugmulla encounter ended with the killing of divisional commander Sameer Wani, adding that soon after the encounter erupted locals in Drugmulla took to the streets and staged several protests against the killing. Sameer Wani, the divisional commander was from Dooru area of Sopore, said sources.
Sources said that, "soon after the news spread in the area, all the businesses shut down in Dooru and people staged protest and blocked the Kupwara-Sopore road and chanted pro freedom slogans.
"The police team from CARGO was informed about the presence of militants and carried out this operation with the Army's 47 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), sources added.
Pertinently on June 24, gunfight had raged in Waterkhani forests of Drugmulla area of the district, in which three militants were killed by the security forces. |
