6 militants, IAF guard killed in Hajin gunfight

Srinagar: Six militants and an Indian Air Force (IAF) commando were killed and an army man injured in a gunfight in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday, police said.
“The encounter is now finished and was a success. Total of 6 LeT militants eliminated. Weapons and ammunition recovered,” DGP SP Vaid tweeted.
He said one of the militant named “Owaid is son of Zakir Rehman Maki and nephew of Zakir Rehman Lakhvi.”
“LeT commanders Zargam and Mehmood also eliminated in the operation today. All of the militants neutralised today were Pakistanis,” Vaid said in his another tweet.
An IAF Garud commando, identified as Nirala, was also killed in the firefight.
Earlier, a gunfight broke out between militants and government forces in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
An official said a Joint team of Army’s 13 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) and 45 BN of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search-operation after “specific inputs” about presence of militants in Chandergeer area.
“”As they approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter,” he said. Seven militants were believed to be trapped inside the cordoned off area.