HM commander among 5 militants killed, SOG camp attacked in valley

Srinagar, Jun 1 (UNI) Five militants, including a Batallion Commander (BC) of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were killed while a camp of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police was attacked in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said today.

They said a HM commander Ayub Thakur was killed in an encounter at Tral in Pulwama district of South Kashmir last night.

The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants, sources said.

Six houses, three cow sheds, two kothars and one shops were gutted after security forces allegedly fired mortar shells during the encounter.

Sources said immediately after the cordon was lifted hundreds of people, mostly women took to streets today, in protest against security forces for damaging the property.

The demonstrators also alleged they were confined to their houses by the security forces for two days. They said more than a dozen persons were tortured by the security forces during the search operation.

A defence ministry spokesman said troops of 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) conducted a search operation at Pakharpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam yesterday.

When the troops were sealing the area, militants opened fire on the troops. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gun battle two militants identified as Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Pakistan and Ashiq Ahmad were killed. Two ak rifles and other arms and ammunitiion were recovered from the slain militants.

Sources said a HM militant Bilal Ahmad was killed by security forces in an encounter at Suran Kokernag in South Kashmir district of Anantnag last night. The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants.

Militants shot dead a released ultra of HM Azad Ahmad at Moradabad Shopian in Pulwama district today.

Sources said militants fired two rifle grenades towards SOG camp at Pattan in Baramulla district late last night. The grenades missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage.

Militants attacked a police party at Sharmal Shopian in Pulwama district today. There was no report of casuality in the incident, they said adding militants later managed to escape.

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