Three Hizbul Militants Killed In South Kashmir

Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an overnight encounter on Wednesday in the Tral area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district, according to reports. The dead militants have been identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat, Mohammad Isaq Parray and Asif Ahmed Mir.

Army officers said that one of the militants named as Bhat was involved in providing shelter to the dead militants who were involved in the Udhampur attack that took place last October.

The encounter started on Wednesday evening as the Indian Army and police enclosed on the village. Security forces were launched following confidential information that confirmed the presence of militants in the area. According to the Army officers, the local villagers were not helpful to the armed forces. The villagers assembled together and started throwing stones as soon as the force cordoned-off the village to help the militants escape safely.

This was followed by the police and army nearing closing in on the area where the militants were sheltered. This information made the militants furious and those who had taken shelter in the village start firing at the forces. The firing continued for several hours on Wednesday night resulting in an encounter and which killed the Hizbul militants.

The police officers confirmed that three AK rifles have been recovered from the possession of the militants. The Army officers later confirmed that thorough search and sanitization operations are still being continued by the forces.