January 08, 2020 00:00:00 | Javid Ahmad

Hizb militant killed in Awantipora encounter

A militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed on Tuesday in a gunfight with forces in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after a long lull in encounters in the Valley.

A police official said forces launched a cordon and search operation in Churswoo village of Awantipora following intelligence inputs about presence of militants there.

He said the militant identified as Shahid Ahmed Gandhaj of Bijbehara, Anantnag was given chance by forces to surrender and his father was called to the encounter site to call his son out and lay down arms.

“However, the militant opened fire on forces, leading to a gunfight in which he was killed,” the official said adding arms and ammunition were recovered from the gunfight site.

Shahid was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahuideen and had gone missing from his home barely a week ago, according to reports.

The gunfight between the militant and forces occurred after 41 days of lull in encounters in the valley.

The last gunfight took place at Rajpora area of Pulwama on November 26, 2019 in which two local Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed.

Last year, as many as 160 militants were killed and 102 arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, according to Police.

The DGP Dilbagh Singh had said 250 militants were still active in the Valley.