Srinagar: A commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit was killed in an overnight gunfight during which three army soldiers and a civilian were also injured in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, police said on Saturday.
“Yesterday, at about 1915 hours, on a specific input regarding the presence of (militants) in Rishipora area of Anantnag, Police, Army (19RR) and CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.
As the joint team wasestablishing the cordon around the suspected area, he said, the hiding militants started indiscriminate firing upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,”.
“In the initial exchange of fire, three army personnel and a civilian got injured. All the injured were immediately airlifted to 92 Base Hospital Srinagar for treatment and are stated to be stable,” he said.
However, as per defence ministry spokesman two soldiers— Lance Naik Achal Patwari and Sepoy Amandeep Singh, and the civilian, Mukhtar Ahmed Malik, were injured.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson said that the hiding militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Nisar Khanday (Commander of HM) who was “active since year 2018.”
As per police records, the spokesperson said that Khanday was involved in several cases including attacks on Police and SFs. “It is pertinent to mention that (he) was earlier arrested in year 2000 along with arms/ammunition and detained under PSA,” he said. Before joining militant ranks in 2018, the spokesperson said that the Khanday was working as the militant associate of the outfit. “He has been involved in several killings of civilians and security forces besides mastermind in fresh recruitment of youth in (militant) rank.”
“IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint teams for carrying out the operation in professional manner and neutralising the wanted commander,” the spokesperson said, adding, “He also appreciated the valour and dedication of injured personnel and prayed for their speedy recovery.” He said one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the site of the encounter. (GNS)
