Srinagar: A “most wanted” Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday, police said.
“Police and security forces neutralised an ‘A+’ categorised terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM,” a police spokesperson said, adding that the slain militant “was involved in several terror crimes, including an attack in Shopian’s Zainapora in 2018, in which four police personnel were killed”.
“Acting on a specific input regarding the presence of a terrorist in Pulwama’s Uzrampathri village, the security forces launched a cordon-and search operation in the area in the intervening night of December 14 and December 15.
“During the search operation, as the presence of the terrorist got ascertained, he was given repeated opportunities to surrender. However, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the police spokesperson said in a statement.
In the encounter, a member of proscribed outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Khaliq, a resident of Heff-Shrimal in Shopian, was killed.
“As per police records, the killed terrorist was ‘A+’ categorised and was part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities,” the statement said.
Dar was active since 2017, it added.
“The slain terrorist was also involved in the killing of a girl, Ishrat Muneer, daughter of Muneer Ahmad Bhat, resident of Dangerpora Pulwama in February 2019,” the police spokesperson said.
“Dar was involved in killing of a non-local labour, Charanjeet, son of Hans Raj, resident of Fazila Punjab, and injuring others in October 2019, when they were loading apple boxes in a vehicle in the Zainapora area of Shopian. Besides, he was also instrumental in luring the gullible youth to join terrorist ranks,” the police spokesperson said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including an AK rifle and three magazines, were seized from the encounter site, he said and added that police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated.
