Hizb commander among 3 ultras dead in Tral gunfight

SRINAGAR: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled commander of the outfit, were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Tral area of Pulwama district on Wednesday.
Huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the militants who were involved in over a dozen terror crimes including killings of civilians.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Sherabad area of Tral in Awantipora late Tuesday night following information about the presence of militants there.
During searches, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces.
"In the ensuing encounter, three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in the Tral area," Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told reporters here.
Singh said the slain militants have been identified as Jehangir Ahmad Wani alias Umer Mukhtar of Ameerabad-- who had taken over the command of the outfit in the area after the killing of Hammad, and Raja Umer Maqbool of Lurgam and Sadaat Ahmad Thokar of Waghama.
He said arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site which included two AK rifles, a pistol and two grenades, adding that the trio was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM and were wanted by law for their complicity in terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
“One of them, Jahangeer was a commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and was involved in eight big terror activities which resulted in a fearful environment in the region," Singh said in a press conference.
He was involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area along with Raja Umer Maqbool. Several terror crime cases were registered against them including murder of two civilians, arson and setting a pharmacy shop on fire, threatening of civilians, attack on army jawans and cops, setting a truck, a mosque, and a ziyarat on fire.
Similarly, Sadat was also involved in several terror cases including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. Terror crime cases were also registered against him.
Twenty-three terrorists have been eliminated in various encounters since last month, the DGP said.
He said while 19 militants have been killed in eight operations in Kashmir, four were killed in two operations in the Jammu region since January this year.
"So far, we have had 10 successful operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 in which 23 terrorists have been eliminated," the DGP said.
"Besides, we have also arrested 40 overground workers who were involved in grenade throwing incidents or facilitating the terrorists in the valley," he added.
Singh said it was heartening that eight youths, who had left homes to join militant ranks, have been reunited with their families after realising the futility of their decision.
"We have ensured that there is no collateral damage during the operations. The fresh recruitment into terrorist ranks is next to nil. The life in Kashmir is normal and police will make all efforts to contribute in keeping it that way," he added.