Srinagar, Jun 30: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district of central Kashmir on Sunday morning, a police official said.
Acting on a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces at Bugam in Chadoora area, the official said.
He said during the search operation, a militant fired on the search party.
The fire was retaliated to, leading to an encounter in which the militant was killed and his body was recovered along with arms and ammunition.
The militant has been identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat from Armulla area of Pulwama district of south Kashmir, the official said.
Bhat was affiliated with the proscribed Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and was involved in several militancy cases, he added.
According to the police records, Bhat, police spokesman said had a history of being involvement in militancy since 2017 and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area. Several cases were registered against him including case (FIR no. 12/2018) pertaining to damage caused to a vehicle and residential house of a civilian at Niloora, and a case (FIR no. 33/2018) pertaining to a landmine blast at Gudbug Pulwama, police spokesman said.
He urged the people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.
