4 Hizb militants killed in gunbattle at Shopian
NL Correspondent
Shopian, June 08: Four militants were killed in a four-hour-long encounter that broke between militants and the security forces in Pinjura village of Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday while as three soldiers have been also injured in exchange of fire.
An official told that four militants have been killed while as three soldiers were injured in an exchange of fire.
He said that four bodies were recovered who identification is being ascertained while is search operation was on in the area.
Earlier, an official said that in joint operation lead by the Army's 44 RR, Police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated triggering an encounter.
Addressing a press conference at army's Awantipore headquarters, General officer commanding (GoC) victor force, Major General A Sengupta said that last night again, a specific input was received from the police about presence of militants in Pinjoora area of Shopian. “These militants were involved in harassing the civil population, disrupt normal life and killing of non-local people, injuring truck drivers last year and also abducting the cops,” the GoC Victor Force.
He said in the four hour long operation at Pinjoora, four local militants were killed without any collateral damage in a four-hour long operation.
Speaking on the occasion, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based army's 15 Corps, Lieutenant General B S Raju said that he congratulates the teams of army and the police besides CRPF for doing the excelling job by killing nine militants in the past 24 hours.
As already reported earlier, militants including a top Hizb ‘commander' were killed in an encounter at Reban Shopian on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued here said that the identification of killed militants was on. “However, as per credible sources, the slain militants were affiliated with the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. All bodies sent to Baramulla for last rites and if identified, their families can participate in funeral and last rites as per religious practices,” the statement added.
