Hizb commander shot in Kupwara encounter

New Delhi/Srinagar, Jul 7

Advertisement

A top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, the police have said.

A police spokesman said Hizbul Mujahideen group commander Mehrajuddin Halwai, alias Ubaid, was apprehended during routine checking at Watyen in Ganders area of Kupwara district on Tuesday evening.

“During the search, a grenade was recovered from him. Accordingly, he was shifted to nearest police post for questioning. During questioning, he identified himself as Mehrajuddin Halwai @ Ubaid, an active terrorist commander of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen,” the spokesman said.

He said on Halwai’s disclosure, multiple cordon and search operations (CASO) were launched by security forces.

“At village area Pazipora Renan Kralgund, Handwara, when CASO was started, the terrorist tried to pinpoint the location where he had kept his arms and ammunition. Upon reaching the hideout location, the terrorist picked up his hidden AK-47 rifle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which led to an encounter. In the ensuing fire-fight, the terrorist got killed,” the spokesman said.

He said incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including one AK-47, four magazines, power bank, blanket and medicines, were recovered from the hideout at the encounter site. “As per police records, he was a categorised A++ terrorist,” the spokesman said. — TNS/PTI