Four militants affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) were killed in two separate encounters in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam district, officials said on Thursday.
A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two militants were killed in Hangalgund, Kokernag area of Anantnag where search operation is still going on while as two militants were killed in Mishipora-Kujjar area of Kulgam where search operation also continues.
He said that on Tuesday afternoon (14 June) acting on a specific information, a joint team of Police, Army’s 1 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched cordon and search operation in Mishipora-Kujjar area of Yaripora following specific information about the presence of some militants in the area.
“As the forces intensified the searches, militants hiding in the area opened fire, leading to a gunfight, he said, adding that contact with hiding militants was re-established on third day(Thursday) and during exchange of fire two local Hizb militants belonging to Kulgam district were killed,” the official said.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that the slain were involved in killing of Rajni Balla, a teacher from Samba who was shot dead when she was on duty in School at Gopal Pora Kulgam. “Further details will be shared accordingly,” he said.
He while giving details about Kokernag encounter told KNO that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in Hangalgund, Kokernag area of Anantnag district on Thursday afternoon.
“As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter,” the official said.
He said during exchange of fire, two militants affiliated with Hizb have been killed while as the search operation is going on in the area.
“AnantnagEncounterUpdate: 01 more #terrorist killed (total 02). Search going on. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
“#AnantnagEncounterUpdate: Killed #terrorists identified as Junaid Bhat & Basit Wani of HM #terror outfit. #Terrorist Basit Wani was involved in killing of BJP’s Sarpanch Gh Rasool Dar & his wife, a Panch on 9/8/21 in #Anantnag: IGP Kashmir,” Kashmir Zone Police further tweeted.
Earlier in a statement issued to KNO, police spokesman had said that police and security forces killed three militants including a killer of woman teacher in twin anti-militancy operations in Kulgam and Anantnag districts so far.
“Acting on a specific information about presence of militants in village Mishipora area of Kulgam, police along with 1st RR launched a cordon and search operation in the said area. As the joint party proceeded towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively by the joint forces. However, the hiding militants managed to shift their base consistently in the village after the initial exchange of fire and tried to breach the cordon but the cordon remained firmly intact and search was going on from the past two days to nab them,” the spokesman said. “Today, the contact was re-established with the hiding militants and the encounter resumed. In the ensuing encounter two militants of HM outfit were killed so far. One of the killed militant has been identified as Zubair Sofi of Mohan Pora Kulgam who was involved in killing of woman teacher Mrs Rajni Bala on 31/05/2022. The identification of second killed militant is being ascertained. The operation is still in progress,” the spokesman said.
The police spokesman said that moreover, in the afternoon another anti-militancy operation was launched by Anantnag Police, Army (19 RR) and CRPF (164Bn) at Hangalgund area of Anantnag. “In the operation, one militant was so far killed and the operation is still going on,” the police spokesman said—(KNO)