Srinagar, May 27: The successor of Burhan Wani and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat was among two militants killed in an ongoing encounter in Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday.
Sources said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Soimoh village of Tral, 36 kms from here, on Friday night after militants opened fire at a patrol party of the 42-Rashtriya Rifles. “As the search party was closing on the house where the militants were hiding, the ultras opened fire, triggering an encounter,” they said.
Reinforcements were rushed to the area to ensure militants don't escape under the cover of darkness, sources said and added early in the morning the gun battle resumed and after a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides Sabzar and one of his associate were killed.
The army's northern command said the operation was on suggesting a third militant was being engaged. The State Police Chief SP Vaid confirmed Sabzar's killing without giving any further details. Sabzar was a close aide of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter on July 8 last year.
The other slain militant has been identified as Faizan, a teenager who had reportedly joined militant ranks recently.
Reports said people, especially youth, took to streets and tried to march towards the encounter site. However, police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area fired pellets and lobbed teargas shells to prevent the march, triggering clashes in which dozens of youth were injured. The injured youth were shifted to Sub District Hospital Tral for treatment.
Locals alleged that forces barged into their houses and broke windowpanes of mosques and residential houses.
Earlier, six militants were killed by the army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rampur sector of Uri in Baramulla after they tried to infiltrate into the Indian side.
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