Hizbul Mujahideen received a jolt on Wednesday as security forces shot dead two terrorists, including district commander, during a prolonged gunfight at Pazalpora village in north Kashmir's Sopore area.
A police spokesman said that following specific information about the presence of terrorists in Pazalpora, Sopore police along with Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force troops launched a cordon and search operation in the area. During the operation terrorists present in the area fired upon the joint search party.
Police said the holed up terrorists were asked to surrender and announcements were made on loud speakers and other possible means, but they denied surrendering.
During the fierce gun-battle both holed up terrorists were killed. They were identified as Gulzar Ahmad lone alias Ibrahim, district commander of the outfit and his associate Basit Ahmad Mir alias Tahir. Both were residents of Sopore police district. “Two AK-47 rifles, 5 magazines, 124 rounds, 2 pouches and one grenade were recovered from the encounter site.
Both the slain terrorists were involved in a number of subversive activities, including killing of several local civilians.
Police said lone was involved in attacks on cell phone towers in 2015. These attacks were claimed by lashkar-e-Islam, a dissident group of Hizbul Mujahideen. Police claimed lone was instrumental in instigating and luring the youth to join the HM outfit in Sopore.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district after security forces cordoned off a pocket of the town following input about presence of three terrorists in the area.
Witnesses said that in a bid to disrupt the operation against the terrorists, local youth took to streets and hurled stones at the security personnel.
“They (forces) responded by firing tear smoke shells,
triggering clashes,” said an eye witness. Reports said that terrorists took advantage of intense clashes and fled from the spot.