A top militant of Hiizbul Mujahideen has been killed in a gunfight that broke out between government forces and militants at Nagri area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday morning, police said.
A senior police officer told Srinagar based news agency Global News Service (GNS) that army’s 47 RR, CARGO Srinagar and SOG Kupwara cordoned off the Nagri village near Drugmulla in the frontier district following specific information about the hiding of some militants inside a house of Ghulam Mouhidin last night.
The forces, as such, intensified the cordon-and-search operation and fired several warning shots towards the suspected spot today in the wee hours, the officer said, adding that the militants opened fire, triggering off an encounter.
“During the exchange of gunfight the militant was killed”, he said.
He said that an AK-47 rifle and other war like stores was recovered from his possession.
The officer identified the militant as Sameer alias Jan, and he is said to be the Divisional Commander for north Kashmir.
Body of the slain Sameer, a resident of Dooru, Sopore was handed over to the concerned police station for further necessary formalities .
Meanwhile, clashes and protests erupted in the area soon after the news about the killing of the militant spread.
Eyewitnesses said the youths staged pro-freedom and anti-India protests and pelted stones on forces.
Reports of protests also reported from Dooru area of Sopore, the native village of the slain militant.
When reports last came in, the protests and clashes were continuing in the area.
