Srinagar, SEP 15 (PTK): Five militants including a Hizb commander have been killed in Chowgam village of Qazigund of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district after a fierce gunfight with government forces started during a nocturnal search operation, sources said on Saturday.
“Five militants have been killed and warlike stores recovered,” army PRO Col Rajesh Kalia confirmed Press Trust of Kashmir”.
Earlier forces launched an operation in Chowgam village of Qazigund area after input about the presence of militants, police said. The hiding militants opened fire on forces triggering a fierce gunfight.
The gunfight started during the past night and lasted till today. Forces blasted the house in which militants were holding up killing three of them early today, sources said.
Meanwhile local told Press Trust of Kashmir that there was a long lull after some blasts in the area however firing resumed after forces started searching for bodies.
The firing according to reports ended only when the remaining two militants were killed including a Hizbul Mujahideen commander.
Meanwhile a police spokesman identified the slain militants as Gulzar Ahmad Padder alias Saif resident of Adijan Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood resident of Yamrach Kulgam, Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim resident of Okey Kulgam, Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda resident of Fatehpora Anantnag and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai resident of Nagnad Noorabad Damhal Hanjipora.
“5 militants to have been neutralised. Train services between Baramulla -Qazigund suspended. Police and Security Forces on job,” police said on Twitter.
In the backdrop of the killing of militants in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, mobile internet services have been suspended in Anantnag and Kulgam districts as a precautionary measure.
An official said that the service was suspended to “prevent law and order situation” following the killing of militants.
However train services have also been suspended as a precautionary measure. “We have suspended train services in south Kashmir for security reasons,” a railway official said.
However, trains continued to chug on Srinagar-Budgam in central Kashmir to Baramulla in north Kashmir as per schedule, officials said.
Meanwhile Police in a statement said that in the ensuing encounter, 05 militants were killed. This was a group of militants involving proscribed outfits HM and LeT.
Gulzar Paddar was a close associate of Altaf Kachroo and was involved in a series of militant attacks including killing of five police personnel at Pambay last year along with two bank employees, police said.
He was also involved in the killings of SPO at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. Besides he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area.
Zahid of Okey village was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on the day of Eid. Faisal was involved in the killing of Policeman Gowhar Ahmad who was posted in Shopian last year.
Zahoor @ Rehman and Mansoor were involved in series of militancy related acts besides recruitment bid in the locality.
They were affiliated with proscribed militant outfits LeT and HM. Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter.
Meanwhile a spontaneous shutdown was reported from parts of south Kashmir. At least one civilian was killed and many injured in clashes near the site of a gunfight between the militants and the government forces in Chowgam village.
According to reports that Rouf Ahmed Ganie son of Abdul Salam Ganie, a resident of Anchidoora was hit by a bullet in his throat during the clashes that erupted following an encounter.
He was referred to Srinagar; however he succumbed on the way to hospital. (PTK)
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