Top Harkat commander killed in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 12 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have killed a top commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) in an encounter in north Kashmir today.

A police spokesman said a search operation was launched on the outskirts of Sopore town, about 55 km from here today following a tip off that militants were planning to cause large scale blasts on or before the August 15 in the town.

He said a special police team was rushed to the area to nab the militants. However, when police personnel were sealing a particular area, they were fired upon by the militants. The fire was returned and in the fierce clash a self styled District Commander (DC) of the HuM Abu Shaheen Afghani was killed. One ak rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain commander, who was carrying a cash reward.

He was involved in a number of militancy-related incidents in the north Kashmir.

UNI