‘Rifle-snatcher’ militants killed in Kupwara
Two civilians injured in post-encounter clashes
Kupwara: Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed in an encounter today after they fired upon security forces in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
An INSAS rifle, snatched earlier this week from a policeman in the Kupwara district of north Kashmir, was recovered from the militants, they said.
Security forces had established a check-point this afternoon at Khumriyal in Lolab area, a police spokesman said. The checking was going on when the militants fired upon the security personnel who immediately retaliated, he added.
In the brief encounter, two militants were killed by the security forces, the spokesman said.
The slain militants were identified as Zahoor Ahmad and Bilal Ahmad Shah of Shatmuqam village, he added.
“They were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen. Both were involved in several attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities in the area,” the spokesman said.
He said besides an AK-47, an INSAS rifle, which was snatched from a policeman in Kandhar area of Kupwara on Tuesday, was recovered from the slain militants.
No collateral damage occurred during the encounter, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, two civilians were injured after security forces opened fire to break up a protest the erupted in the aftermath of killing of two militants in a gunfight in Lolab.
Reports said that protests erupted in Krusan area of Lolab and the forces opened fire to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to two of them.
Both the injured were rushed to a local medical facility where from they were referred to Kupwara for specialized treatment.
One of the injured was identified as Mohd Jamal Tantary, Chowkidar of village Krusan. Reports said that he was hit by a bullet in his arm.
Militants snatch rifle from bank guard
Srinagar: Unidentified militants today snatched a rifle from a bank guard in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
The militants appeared at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s branch at Brakpora in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, they said.
A police official said the ultras took away a 12 Bore rifle from the guard.
There are no reports of cash loot, the official said, adding a police party has reached the spot.
