Financial chief, among two HM militants killed in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 10 (UNI) A self-styled Financial Chief was among two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) most wanted militants killed by security forces in a fierce encounter in south Kashmir.

Deputy Inspector General(DIG) of Police for South Kashmir, Himant Kumar said acting on specific information about the presence of top militants, police and 180 and 185 batallions of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint operation at village Noorpora, Tral, about 35 km from here in Pulwama district.

He said when the security forces were about to storm the house of one Firdous Ahmad, militants hiding inside opened fire. The fire was returned, he said adding reinforcement was rushed to the area from nearby camps.

Mr Kumar said with the first light today, security forces launched a massive offensive and killed both the militants.

He said Dar alias Hanief Khan was active since he joined militancy in early 90s.

Dar, a local resident, was responsible for more than 20 killing since 1990, triggered a mine blast in Sonwar area and was now responsible for arranging finance for HM.

He said the second slain militant was identified as Javid Ahmad Malik, also a local, who became a militant in 2001.

This is the second major set back for HM in south Kashmir during the past three weeks. A self-styled divisional commander and four other militants were killed by security forces in Anantnag and Shopian districts recently.

A police spoksman said police and CRPF arrested a HM militant at Rajpora, Pulwama, last night.

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