Hizbul commander gunned down in Kistwar shootout

Jammu, Nov 9 (UNI) A self-styled 'area commander' of banned terrorist outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was today gunned down in an ambush by security forces at Chatroo in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

Hizbul militant, Mohammad Shafi alias Mansoor, was killed in an ambush laid by the Army at Marmulah in Chatroo while three of his associates managed to escape, the sources told UNI.

One AK rifle, three magazines, one wireless set and a Chinese grenade were recovered from the shootout site, they said.

Security forces have, meanwhile, launched a massive combing and search operation in the area to nab the escaped militants.

UNI