Shopian: A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was among five militants killed an encounter Reban village of South Kashmir’s Shopan district on Sunday.
The encounter started at Reban village early this morning after joint teams of army, police and CRPF cordoned a vast area and started searches. “When the forces zeroed in on a suspected house, the hiding militants fired at the forces triggering a fierce gun-battle. In the initial exchange of fire that last for a few hours, three militants were killed. And in the second stage of encounter, two more militants were killed,” a police officer told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
He said that the identification of five slain militants is going on and one of them was a commander active since past many years. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar first confirmed killing of three militants and then two more saying that “in total five militants were killed in the encounter.”
Defence Spokesman in Srinagar Rajesh Kalia said that five militants were killed in a joint operation at Reban village of Shopian district. “Good drills were ensured by the security forces and there was no collateral damage,” he said. The authorities had snapped internet facility on mobile phones in Shopian and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir as a precautionary major.
A statement issued by the police here said that as per credible sources, slain militants belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and one of the slain militants is believed to be top commander.
“In case any family claims that their slain militants were their kin, they can come forward for the identification,” the spokesman said. He urged people not to venture into the encounter site till the area is properly sanitized—(KNO)
