Three militants were killed and three soldiers were injured in a gunfight in Kulgam district on Friday, police said. The gunfight erupted in Nagnad Chimmer area of South Kashmir, when government forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area following an input about the presence of militants. “The operation was launched around midnight. As the security forces approached the suspected area spot, the hiding militants fired at them at around 5.30 am, which was retaliated triggering an encounter. In the gunfight three militants were killed,” a police officer said. “Three soldiers were also wounded in the gunfight and they were shifted to a medical facility.” Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar said that government forces seized arms and ammunition from the encounter site. One of the slain militants has been identified by police as Jaish-e-Muhamamd's IED expert Waleed bahi, a Pakistani national. Waleed was among the top wanted militants in Kashmir. Kumar said that Waleed was one among the 12 most wanted commanders. “Ten more commanders are still on the run who are wanted. One has been already killed in Sopore,” he said. Waleed was active for the past one and a half years and was operating in South Kashmir areas including Qazigund highway stretch. “We have recovered a US made M-4 Carbine from the slain Jaish commander.” While talking about militant commanders, IGP said that it was Sajad alias Hyder who recently abducted a BJP worker and is active in Sopore. “This Sajad even released a video, asking police not to target militants’ families,” he said. “Police don’t target the family members of militants nor it harasses them. “There is only one case where we arrested the mother of a slain militant, against whom there was ample proof. Even the court rejected her bail plea given the concrete evidence police had against her,” he said. In response to a question, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that operation against top militant commanders will continue. There is one more Pakistani militant Adnan Bhai alias Lamboo Bhai, who is also an IED expert of Jaish-e-Muhammad. Operations against them will continue,” Kumar said. (KNT)