Shopian, June 25: A local militant was killed in a gun-battle with security forces while his associate surrendered in Hanjipora Kachdora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday, police said.
The killed militant was identified as Murtaza Ahmad Dar of Samboora, Pulwama.
This is the second encounter in the last 48 hours in the district. On Wednesday security forces killed a Hizbul Mujahideen militant in Shirmal (Heff) village of the district.
A police official said that both the militants were asked to surrender by the forces.
“While one of the militants continued to fire on the forces, his associate Sahil Ahmad of Bemmipora village finally changed his mind and gave in,” said the official.
Sahil had joined militancy in March this year.
Another official said that the gun-battle started after columns of army’s 34 RR, CRPF and police laid a siege around Hanjipora Kachdora village district on Friday afternoon.
“While the operation was in progress, the militants hiding in the area opened fire on the forces triggering off an encounter, which ended with the killing of one militant,” said the police official.
“The family of another militant was brought to the encounter site to encourage him to surrender,” added the official.
A police spokesperson in a statement said that 1 rifle, 1 pistol, 2 grenades were recovered.
According to the statement, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar “congratulated the security forces for showing utmost patience and exhibiting professionalism by taking surrender of active militant during live encounter.”