4 Hizb militant, Para commando killed in Shopian gunfight

Srinagar: At least four militants and an Army commando were killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
A top police officer said four militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight that raged following the search operation was launched in Shopian district Tuesday.
Police said that a joint cordon was launched by the police and security forces on a credible input about the presence of militants in Nadigam area of district Shopian in the predawn hours Tuesday.
“As the search operation was going on, the search party was confronted with bullets fired by the hiding militants. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire one army soldier identified as HC Vijay of 23 Para sustained injuries and was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed,” police said.
In the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Police identified the slain militants as Abid Nazir Chopan of Padarpora, Basharat Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar of Drawni and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq of Mantujan Shopian, saying that they were affiliated with HM and were “involved in attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area.”
“Incriminating materials including huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter,” police said.
Police later urged citizens not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” police said.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and forces following the encounter raged in the district during which scores of civilians including two girls’ sustained injuries who were taken to the hospital for treatment.