Militant killed, 2 BSF men hurt in Kashmir gunfight

Srinagar, Jun 20: A top Pakistani commander of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) was killed while two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were wounded in a fierce gun-battle in Bandipora district of north Kashmir early today, an Army spokesman said.

One more militant was wounded in the encounter, he added.

Giving details, the spokesman said personnel of 57 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 51 BSF launched a joint search operation following a tip-off by the Jammu and Kashmir police in Bandipora district.

As the security forces were searching a particular area, militants attacked them with grenades and automatic weapons, the spokesman said adding two BSF personnel were wounded in the attack.

The fire was effectively returned and in the ensuing gun-battle, the security forces killed a self-styled district commander of Pakistanbased HuM, the spokesman said.

He was identified as Shahin, a resident of Pakistan.

The spokesman said another militant, Miraj Zargar, was also wounded in the grenade explosion. He had been shifted to the Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital here for treatment.

A satellite phone and a handset besides an AK rifle were seized from the encounter site, he added.

UNI