Srinagar/May, 6: Among the five top militants killed in a gunfight in Badigam village of South Kashmir’Shopian district is an Assistant Professor of Kashmir University and a top commander of Hizb Ul Mujahideen Sadaam Padder. As already reported top Hizb ul Mujahideen commander Saddam Padder and the missing Kashmir University professor Muhammad Rafi Bhat were among five militants trapped in a gunfight with forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday morning.
Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said five militants were killed in the encounter. He said five bodies have been recovered from the gunfight site.
Unconfirmed reports said the slain militants have been identified as Saddam Padder, Muhammad Rafi Bhat, Tawseef Sheikh, Bilal Moulvi and Adil Ahmad. Padder was an aide of slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, SP Pani said that efforts were made to persuade the militants to surrender but they refused. The announcements were made on loudspeakers, he said.
“We even tried to take families to the encounter site to persuade the militants but to no avail,” said Pani.
