Saahil Suhail
ANANTNAG, Jan 20: Anantnag, January 20: A top Hizb militant was today killed by Army and police in a fierce gun battle that broke out on Monday morning in Shempora area of Qazigund in South Kashmir.
Slain militant was identified as Javed Salfi, a resident of Bulbul Nowgam who worked as a counter-insurgency informant of the Army and Police before joining the militant group.
Official sources said that on getting inputs about the presence of militant in the area, Army's 9 Rashtiya Rifles laid a search operation, during which suspected militant fired upon troops triggering encounter between militant and troops. Later SOG Anantnag also joined the Army and in joint operation claimed to have killed the militant, however till late hour's body of the slain militant was not retrieved.
Forces blasted the house of Ghulan Nabi Parray were the militant had took refuge.
Sources said that militant was requested to surrender but he denied and continued to make unsuccessful attempts to escape.
Slain militant was involved in attacking a police constable in Janglat Mandi area of Anantnag earlier this year. "He had fired upon a constable near Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town last year and ran away with the injured constable's service trifle," a police official confirmed.
Meanwhile, protest broke out near the encounter spot demanding dead body of the slain militant. Police used teargas shells to quell the youths who were protesting on the highway near encounter site. Police had reportedly also detained few among them.
Confirming the killing of a Hizb militant, DIG said, "we had prior information that a local militant Javed Salfi is holed up in one of the house in village. Army along police laid a cordon in the area. The militant fired at security forces triggering an encounter during which he was killed." Adding, they were digging the daubery to as to retrieve the body of slain militant. |
