in a fierce gunfight, 4 militants were killed while two soldiers were also injured at Khurbatapora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. A police official said that Hardmand Gori area was cordoned off after receiving inputs about the presence of militants. The search operation was launched and contact with militants who were hiding in a residential house was established. During the exchange of fire, 4 militants were killed. A soldier Sindhu Singh was injured and shifted to hospital while another soldier received splinter injuries.The operation was launched by the soldiers from 34 Rashtriya Rifles, 18 Battalion CRPF and counter insurgent wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police.Police said that the target house was completely demolished while three bodies were recovered from the debris. He said that there is possibility that one more body of the militant may be present under the debris. Reports said earlier only 3 bodies were retrieved from the debris, however, during search operation, the body of fourth militant was later recovered by police. They added that all the four militants are locals.
Eyewitnesses told Kashmir News Trust that the house in which militants were present was blasted by combined forces. The explosion damaged a couple of adjacent housesPolice said that a Hizbul Mujhadeen group comprising 3 or 4 members was killing civilians over the last 12 day. Four such killings were done by them in south Kashmir. Police was able to track them down and an operation was launched on Saturday morning jointly by police, CRPF and Army in which 4 militants were neutralized.The slain militants were identified as Ajaz Ahmed Naikoo alias Mosa of Chimmer HD Pora Kulgam, Shahid Ahmed Malik of Khull DH Pora Kulgam, Waqar Farooq of Kulgam and Muhammad Ashraf Malik alias Sadam.Waqar Farooq had gone missing on March 18 last month. All the slain militants were affiliated with Hizbul Mujhadeen. Police official said that arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. These include 1 AK-27 rifle and 2 magazines, 1 SLR, 1 Insas Rifle, 1 Chinese Pistol, 1 Insas magazine and 2 SLR magazines.In this regard police registered a case vide FIR number 32/2020 under 307, 7/25 IA Act at police station DH Pora, Kulgam. (KNT)