Highlights:
- Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander trapped in Awantipora after a gunbattle
- In a separate encounter, another terrorist was killed by the force in Pulwama
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Riyaz Naikoo has been trapped by the security forces in an ongoing gunbattle in Awantipora in South Kashmir as per the officials. In another encounter in Pulwama district, a terrorist was killed on Wednesday.
A joint team of the Jummay & Kashmir Police, CRPF and Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles put in place a cardon and search operation in Beighpora area of Awantipora in Kashmir on Tuesday night. The search operation which began after the security agencies received a tip about the presence of militants in Beighpora area.
A senior police official confirmed the encounter between the militants and forces in the Beighpora area of Awantipora. As per reports, 2 or 3 militants are believed to be trapped in the area including Riyaz Naikoo, a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander.
The internet services in all of South Kashmir have been shut down as a measure to bar the militant from communicating.
Two separate operations are already underway in Pulwama district which started on Tuesday night. In the other encounter, a terrorist was killed who has not been identified yet. The terrorist was killed in a gunbattle in Sharshali Khrew area of Pulwama district.
The security forces recovered one AK-56 rifle from the terrorist after the encounter said the police.
Close to 15 houses were evacuated and the civilians were shifted to other places.
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After a long search operation, a gunfight broke between the armed forces and the militants in Beighpora area in South Kashmir on the night of Tuesday. As the joint forces reached the suspected sport they were ambushed by fire rounds which triggered the encounter.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police has confirmed that the top official of the Hizbul Mujahideen has been trapped inside a building and a gunbattle is still on. J&K police personnel said, “The gunbattle might continue further during the day till we clear the target area. Senior officers monitoring the situation since last night.”
In just 8 hours this is the second encounter Awantipora has witnessed. The gunbattle in Awantipora is the 3rd such operation launched in Kashmir since Tuesday night after the security forces received inputs of the presence of militants in the Union Territory.
