Anantnag/Baramulla, Apr 06: A militant was killed in a gunfight with government forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir Friday, the Army said.
Government forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Kangan village following information about presence of militants in the area, an Army official said.
“As the government forces closed in on the target house, the militant opened fire. The forces retaliated the firing triggering a gunbattle,” the official said.
The militant was killed after a brief encounter, he said, adding one firearm has been recovered from the scene of the gunbattle. However, a police official said an AK-47 and an SLR rifle were recovered from the slain militant.
Police later in the day identified the slain militant killed as Mussavir Ahmad Wani of Delipora Pulwama. Police said he was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in the area soon after people came to know about the news that militants were trapped in the encounter .
Meanwhile, an injured militant was arrested from Turshan Juktiyal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Friday.
The militant believed to be a foreigner, was injured in a gunfight that claimed 10 lives including those of five militants, three army-men and two policemen at Check Fateh Khan of Hyhama last month.
The militant had reportedly escaped in injured condition from the forests of Check Fateh Khan where gunfight raged for two days after starting on March 20.
The militant was apprehended during a cordon and search operation at Turshan area of Juktiyal, officials said.
Prior to militant’s arrest, the joint team of Army and SOG had made announcements asking people to come out of their homes, fearing gunfight. However, sources said that the militant was without arms and was in very bad health condition, barely able to move.
Sources identified the militant as Zabiullah alias Hamzah, son of Sonaullah Saqib, a resident of Multan, Pakistan.
A police officer confirmed the arrest and said that a radio-set has been recovered from his possession.
He said that no weapon has been recovered from the arrested militant. The searches are underway in the area, he said.
