KL Report
SRINAGAR
Three militants including the District Commander of Jaish were killed in an encounter with police and security forces in village Hanjan, Pulwama, a police statement said on Tuesday.
The statement said that on a tip off regarding the presence of armed militants in village Hanjan, Pulwama in Rajpora last evening, Pulwama Police, 44RR, 182, 183 Bn CRPF cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. The militants hiding in the area fired on the joint search party triggering an encounter. The cordon was strengthened however, searches were stopped overnight.
The encounter started again when the search operation was resumed this morning in which three militants were killed. The slain militants were later identified as Jaish District Commander Altaf Ahmad Rather, Showkat Ahmad, Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad.
“The slain JeM District Commander Altaf Ahmad Rather was involved in many militancy related activities,” police said. Altaf was one of the group members involved in the attack and weapon snatching incident at a police guard at Pakharpora shrine in District Budgam this year.
Meanwhile, reports said people clashed with the government forces near the encounter site. They raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Police, resorted to heavy teargas shelling to quell the protests.
