Srinagar: Two militants including a Top Commander were killed in a three-day long gunfight between government forces and militants in Rawalpora village in Shopian district in South Kashmir.
Police have identified both the slain militants as Top Jaish-e-Mohammad militant Commander Wilayat Hussain alias Sajad Afghani, a resident of Rawalpora Shopian and Jahangir Ahmad Wani, a resident of Rakh Narapora Shopian. He was affiliated with Lashkar-i-Toiba militant outfit.
Arms and ammunition including One AK-47 rifle with a UBL shell and one USA made rifle’s M-4 carbine was recovered from the encounter site.
Earlier on Saturday evening, government forces including Army’s34 RR, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched cordon and search operation in the village following the inputs about presence of militants in the area.
After initial firing, the operation was halted for night. On Sunday morning the operation was resumed and one militant was killed. The operation was again halted for second night on Sunday. On Monday the operation was resumed and was ended with the killing of Top Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated Shopian Police and security forces on eliminating Afghani. He terms killing of Afghani a huge success to security forces.
During encounter, four residential houses were damaged in a fire.
Reports of clashes between government forces and youths were also received from the site of encounter. One youth namely Arif Ahmad Wagay suffered a pellet injury in his eye when government forces fired pellets to disperse protesters. He is undergoing treatment at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.
One Cop also received injuries during clashes.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure authorities have snapped down mobile internet services in Shopian district. (KIMS)