J&K: Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed in Shopian

Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants including a top commander and a fresh recruit -- a university professor were killed after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian. A policeman and an army jawan have been injured in the gunbattle. Even one civilian died during clashes between protestors and law enforcing agencies near the encounter site, police said.

Official sources said top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Saddam Padder and a Kashmir University assistant professor Mohammad Rafi Bhat are among the slain militants.

A cordon and search operation was launched this morning in Badigam Imama Sahib in Zainapora area of the south Kashmir district.

Acting on specific information about the presence of terrorists in Badigam village in Zainapora area of the south Kashmir district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there this morning, a police official said as PTI reported.

"The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated," the official said. He added, "The gunfight is still on."

The spokesman said the identities of the slain militants are being ascertained.

Today's success comes less than 24 hours after security forces killed three militants in a gunbattle in Chattabal area in the heart of the city yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kashmir University has suspended class work for two days from tomorrow as a precautionary measure and postponed all examinations scheduled to be held tomorrow. Mobile Internet services have been suspended in south Kashmir districts and Ganderbal in central Kashmir, while the facility remained barred in Srinagar for the second consecutive day today.

On Saturday, three terrorists were killed and three CRPF personnel were injured in an eight-hour-long encounter in the congested Chattabal area in downtown Srinagar.

(with PTI inputs)