In the first 21 days of current November month, 21 militants have been neutralized by government forces across Kashmir Valley. It means on average a militant has been killed a day. This time the number of militant killings is the highest as compared to previous years. Former Lieutenant General Ata Hasnain who also served here in Kashmir Valley has already advised their successors to continue their anti-militancy operations in winters as according to him, militants are unable to move freely during winters. Most of the militants who have been killed in the first 21 days of this month are non-locals and belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the first week of this month, army claimed it killed three militants, two in Baramulla and one in Kupwara districts of North Kashmir along Line of Control. Some of the local militants killed this month include Mugees Ahmed Mir, Ashiq Ahmed of Palhalan and Taib Majid of Brat Kalan Sopore and Adil Ahmed Chopan of Larow Tral. Authorities also claimed that they killed nephews of dreaded militant leaders of Pakistan Azhar Masood and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.A political leader and seven government forces personnel including 4 Army soldiers, 2 policemen and Indian Air Force Commando have also been killed in the first 21 days of this month. The political leader whose throat slit body was recovered from South Kashmir’s Shopain district was identified as BJP youth president Gowhar Bhat.ides Sub-Inspector Muhammad Imran Tak killed in Zakura locality of Srinagar city another policeman Abdul Salam lost his lif this month when militants attacked a police party outside Police Station Rajpora. (CNS)