Top commander among four militants killed in J

Srinagar, Mar 21 (UNI) A top commander was among four militants killed by the security forces in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said security forces and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation at Bandipora in north Kashmir early today.

However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house, they came under heavy fire from militants. Security forces also retaliated and in the fierce clash a HuM commander Ashfaq Ahmad alias Gujjar was killed.

Ashfaq, a listed militant active in the north Kashmir for the past seven years, was wanted in a number of killings and other militancy-related incidents. One pistol, two hand grenades, one magazine and eight rounds were recovered from the slain militant.

However, a police press release issued this evening said he was a Jaish-e-Mohammad commander In another operation, security forces killed an HM militant at Keller Rajpora in an encounter in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.

The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant identified as Mohammad Rafiq.

An official spokesman said an encounter took place between militants and security forces at Chajja man post in Poonch district of Jammu region. Two militants were killed in the encounter, he said adding two AK rifles, four magazines, five grenades, two water bottles, one satellite phone, one wireless set and Rs 4,000 were recovered from the slain militants.

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