2 top militant commanders among five killed in J

Srinagar, Dec 9 (UNI) Two top commanders and a soldier were among five people killed in Jammu and Kashmir overninght, an official spokesman said today.

He said security forces killed a self-styled divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammad Sharief alias Hikmatyar Khan in an encounter at Kantha in Gool sector of Doda district today.

A joint search party of security forces and police was attacked by the militants at Waskura village in Ganderbal area ealy this morning. The fire was returned and in the clash, one militant was killed.

An AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militant.

Security forces, on a tip off, cordoned off village Banola in Poonch district of Jammu region early this morning.

However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house of Mohammad Rafiq, militants hiding inside opened fire. Security forces also retaliated and in the fierce clash, a soldier Virender Kumar and a civilian, Mohammad Sharief were killed.

The house was also damaged in the encounter, the spokesman said adding a militant commander Abu Suhail was also killed in the encounter.

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