A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in a nocturnal gunfight at Bugam area of Chadoora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday, police said. Post gunfight, massive clashes between the youth and the security forces rocked the area.
A police official said that acting on a specific tip-off,Police, Army and CRPF personnel launched a midnight joint operation in Bugamarea of Budgam. “As the security forces zeroed in on the suspected house,the hiding militant opened indiscriminate fire triggering an encounter,”the official said.
He said that in the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed.
A police spokesman said that the slain militant wasidentified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat of Armulla, Pulwama.
“The killed militant as per police records wasaffiliated with HizbulMujqhideen and was wanted by law,” the spokesmansaid.
According to the Police records, Bhat had joined militancyin 2017 and was involved in planning andexecuting several attacks in the area.
CLASHES
Soon after the encounter, dozens of youth hit the streetsand resorted to massive stone pelting on the security forces.
A witness said the security forces fired dozens of tear gasshells to disperse the protesters.
Soon after the encounter broke out, the authorities snappedthe internet in the area as a precautionary measure.
ENCOUNTER 2ND IN PAST 3 DAYS
Today’s encounter was second in the district in the pastthree days.
On Friday, a Jaish-e-Muhammad militant was killed atCheckporaKanipora, in Budgam district and the slain was identified as AbuZarar.
A police spokesman said the people are requested tocooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of allthe explosive materials if any.