Top militant killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, APRIL 2. A self-styled district commander of a pro- Pakistan militant outfit, Tehreek-e-Jehad-e-Islami, was killed in a shootout with security forces even as three militant hideouts were smashed in the Kashmir Valley since Saturday night, a defence spokesperson said here today.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Armymen and Special Operations Group (SOG) raided the Kulnar forest and asked the militant, Mohammad Yaqoob Shah, to surrender, he said.

But Shah fired indiscriminately at the security personnel and was killed in the retaliatory action, the spokesperson said, adding Shah was evading arrest for many years and was responsible for a large number of militancy-related incidents.

An AK assault rifle and some ammunition were recovered from him, he said. This is the second encounter in the area within a week. Earlier, on March 26, security forces had gunned down Shakeel Abbassi of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in the forest.

Three militant hideouts were also busted during search operations at Drusoo.

- PTI

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Section  : National
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