Harkat Chief among two militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 7 (UNI) A self-styled chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and another militant were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in north Kashmir early this morning, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, said that a joint operation was launched by police and 2 PARA Regiment after receiving information that some top militants were hiding at Demnar top forest in the frontier district.

He said during the operation, militants opened fire on search party with automatic weapons and also hurled hand grenades. Security forces tightened the cordon and also retaliated killing two militants.

The SSP said the identity cards recovered from the slain militants identified their names as Abu Shaheen @ Shaheen Afghani, and Tahir Saqib.

He said that Abu Shaheen was believed to be chief of the Harkat-ul -Mujahideen outfit.

Two AK Rifles, six magazines and wireless set in damaged condition have also been recovered from the site of encounter.

UNI