2 HM militants killed, 24 ultras surrender, hitman arrested in J

Srinagar, Apr 20 (UNI) Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), responsible for several killings, were gunned down and three security personnel were injured in two different fierce encounters in the Jammu and Kashmir where a hitman of Harkat was arrested and a hideout busted.

Twewnty-four hardcore militants surrendered before the army at Rampur, Uri, after their return from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) today.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman told UNI that troops of 112 and 139 battalion aunched a joint search operation along with Special operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police at Harwan, about 22 km from here last evening.

However, when the security forces were sealing the area, militants hiding in a house opened fire. The fire was returned in which one Sub-Inspector of CRPF was injured.

The house from where the militants were firing caught fire, he said adding the operation was stopped due to poor visibility. The operation was launched with the first light this morning. There was, however, no firing when security forces started the operation this morning. One AK rifle along with a magazine were recovered from the debris of the damaged house.

However, another report said the militants, in an injured condition, managed to escape.

Senior Superintendent of Police Nitish Kumar said troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation at Ratnipora in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama early this morning following a tip off about presence of militants.

He said when the security forces were about to storm a particular house, militants hiding inside opened fire and also hurled grenades.

Security forces further tightened the cordon around the house and repeatedly asked militants to surrender.

However, when the militants refused to surrender and continued firing, security forces also retaliated and killed both the militants identified as Bilal Ahmad Ganie and Hilal Ahmad Bhat alias Sajad. The house was also damaged in the encounter.

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