Top commander of HM militant killed in south Kashmir

Srinagar, May 7 (UNI) Security forces achived a major sucess when they gunned down a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in south Kashmir.

A defence ministry spokesman told UNI that troop on specific information laid a multiple ambush at Noorpora Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir early today.

He said when the troops challenged militants to surrender they opened fire. The fire was returned and in the fierce encounter a militant was killed.

The militant was later identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Bhatt, district commander of HM, and Mushtaq, an expert in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and planting them to triggger blasts. He was responsible for several IED blasts and other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir.

UNI BAS RL ND0958