Two top Hizb commanders, Congress worker among 5 killed in J

Srinagar, Oct 24 (UNI) Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including two top commanders, a Congress worker and a policeman were killed while ultras shot at and wounded two brothers and detonated a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

He said security forces gunned down three Hizb militants in an encounter at Keen Dhar village in Gandoh area of Doda district of the Jammu region today.

Hizb divisional commander Mushtaq Ahmed Malik alias Rahi, who was active in the district since 1992, his associate section commander Abdul Latif Gujar and an overground worker Mohammad Ishaq were killed by the security forces during the gun-battle.

The spokesman said a special police officer (SPO), Naresh Kumar, was also wounded in the gunfight. Two Ak rifles, two magazines and a pouch were seized from the possession of the slain militants.

He said the operation was still on when reports last came in.

The spokesman said militants shot at and critically wounded Mohammad Afzal Beigh, a Congress worker, at Changoo Dooru in south Kashmir's Anantnag district today.

Beigh was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

A head constable of the Special Operation Group (SOG), Mohammad Hanief Khan, was shot dead by suspected militants at the Baramulla main chowk at 1315 hrs today.

Khan died before he could be shifted to a hospital.

Suspected militants triggered a powerful IED in Pattan area of Baramulla district today, official sources said.

They said the explosion took place at around 1600 hrs when a vehicle carrying security forces was passing through Kuta Morh in Pattan area.

However, there were no reports of any casualty or damage to property, the sources added.

They said the IED was planted by suspected militants to target the security forces who used to move through the area almost daily.

No militant outfit has claimed the responsibility for the blast.

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