Srinagar: A top militant was among two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants killed in an encounter with the govt. forces early this morning in Sopore in north Kashmir district of Baramulla.
A police spokesman said here this afternoon that troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state Police launched a cordon and search operation at Pazalpora, Sopore, in Baramulla following a tip off about the presence of militants last night.
However, when the security forces were moving towards particular area in the village, militants opened fire and also lobbed grenades. He said the militants were asked to surrender through public address system besides some locals were also requested to ask militants to surrender but they continued firing with automatic weapons on search party.
He said security forces also retaliated early this morning and in the ensuing fierce encounter two militants were killed. The slain militants were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Lone alias Ibrahim; ‘District Commander’ of HM, son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone resident of Gund Brath, Sopore; and Basit Ahmad Mir alias Tahir, son of Mohammad Ahsan Mir, resident of Andergam Pattan.
Two AK rifles, five magazines, 124 rounds of ammunition and two pouches and a grenade were recovered from the encounter site. He said both the slain militants were involved in a number of militancy related cases in the jurisdiction of Police Division Sopore.
