Div commander among 2 HM militants killed in north Kashmir's Sopore encounter

Srinagar, Sept 4: Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, including a 'Divisional commander', were killed in an encounter with security forces in apple township of Sopore in north Kashmir district of Baramulla, a senior police official said. Congratulating the security force personnel for the anti-insurgency operation, J&K Director General of Police S P Vaid said the two militants killed in the encounter belonged to HM. All educational institutions have been closed in the district, where mobile and internet services have also been affected as a precautionary measure, official sources told UNI. Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Muneer Khan told UNI that following a tip-off about the presence of militants, security forces and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation at Shankergund Brath, 3 km from main town Sopore on Kupwara road early this morning. The entire area was sealed and residents were directed to remain indoors. Security forces and state police personnel had also been posted in strength outside the cordoned off area to prevent any demonstration as has been witnessing in other parts of the valley during operation against militants. There were brief clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the main Sopore town. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants opened fire, he said, adding the fire was retaliated after the militants refused to surrender. He said two militants were killed in the encounter. “Initially we thought that one of the slain militant was Ashiq Hussain of Andergam Pattan. But when we sent the picture of the body to the brother of Ashiq, he confirmed that he was someone else,” he said. “Later, we came to know that the militant killed is actually the Divisional Commander of HM, Parveez Galura. The second militant killed is Nayeem Ahmad of Brath Kalan Sopore,” he said. Earlier, it was reported that the militants belonged to Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT). For precautionary measure, the administration has ordered closure of all educational institutions in Baramulla and other major towns in the district today to prevent any law and order problem. To prevent spread of any rumours, mobile and internet service had also been snapped in the district, official sources said. UNI