3 Hizb militants killed in Tral

Srinagar: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a commander of the outfit, were on Wednesday killed in an encounter with government in the Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Director General Police Dilbagh Singh said government forces launched a cordon and search operation in Tral late Tuesday night following information about the presence of militants there. “During searches, an encounter broke out between militants and the government forces . Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an operation in the Tral area”.
Singh said the slain militants have been identified as Jehangir Ahmad Wani, who had taken over the command of the outfit in the area after the killing of Hammad, Raja Umer Maqbool and Sadaat Ahmad Thokar.
He said arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site which included two AK rifles, a pistol and two grenades.
Twenty-three militants have been eliminated in various encounters since last month, the DGP said.
He said Wani and Maqbool were involved in several “terror crimes”, including killing of two civilians.
“They were also involved in incidents of arson including a firing incident at a mosque and burning of a shop and a truck,” Singh said.
He said while 19 militants have been killed in eight operations in Kashmir, four were killed in two operations in the Jammu region since January this year.
“So far, we have had 10 successful operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 in which 23 militants have been eliminated,” the DGP said.
“Besides, we have also arrested 40 overground workers who were involved in grenade throwing incidents or facilitating the terrorists in the valley,” he added.
Singh said it was heartening that eight youths, who had left homes to join militant ranks, have been reunited with their families after realising the futility of their decision.
“We have ensured that there is no collateral damage during the operations. The fresh recruitment into militant ranks is next to nil. The life in Kashmir is normal and police will make all efforts to contribute in keeping it that way,” he added.