Jawan, civilian and 2 militants killed in encounters

Jammu, Dec 9 (UNI) Two militants, including a divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were today gunned down while a jawan and a civilian were killed in two separate encounters in Poonch and Udhampur districts, police said.

Hizbul divisional commander, Mohammad Sharief alias Himalaya was eliminated in an encounter with 61 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) at Lancha in Gool police station in Udhampur district, police sources said, adding that one AK 47 rifle, two magazines and one wireless set were recovered from him.

Defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami said troops of 39 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and state police, acting on a tip-off, launched a search operation and cordoned off a specific area at Kanti Banola village, but were fired upon by the militants.

''In the fierce gun battle, one militant was killed while one jawan, identified as Davinder Singh of 39RR, also died,'' Lt Col Goswami said.

The state police, in a press release said one civilian, identified as Sharief son of Sher Mohammad hailing from Kanti Banola, was also killed in encounter.

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