Kiren Rijiju, Farooq Abdullah hail security forces after Abu Dujana's killing

New Delhi, Aug 1: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah hailed the security forces after top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Abu Dujana was killed in an encounter in Kashmir.

"The security forces are taking proper action, be it in Jammu and Kashmir or in some other part of the country, and they are taking firm steps in respective cases," Rijiju, who is the minister of state for home affairs, told reporters outside Parliament. Abdullah hoped the forces will continue to do "such good work".

"I hope they will continue to do this good work so that there is peace in our state," the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said while replying to queries outside Parliament. Dujana, a Pakistani national wanted in connection with many attacks on security forces, and his aide were today killed in an encounter in Pulwama district of Kashmir, the army said.

As the security forces were engaged in the counter- militancy operation, over 100 protesters pelted stones on them, an Army official said. The official said that security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Hakripora area of Pulwama late last night following information about presence of Abu Dujana and his local aide, Arif Lilhaari, in the area.

An encounter broke out between the holed up militants and security forces early today. During the ensuing fire fight, both the militants were killed, the official said.

PTI