SRINAGAR: Four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an anti-insurgency operation by security forces in south Kashmir ’s Kulgam district on Saturday. A soldier was also injured in the encounter, notably the first in the district in around 11 months, IG (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said.

The slain terrorists were involved in the recent killings of five civilians in the district, Kumar said. They were identified as Aijaz Ahmed Naikoo alias Moosa (active since August 2018), Shahid Ahmed Malik (active since April 2019), Waqar Farooq (missing since March 18, 2020) — all from Kulgam’s Damhal Hanjipora belt — and M Ashraf Malik alias Saddam from Anantnag district.

While addressing a press conference later in the day, GOC Victor Force A Sengupta said, “Since the killing of the civilians, people of Nandimarg in Kulgam reported the movement of three to four terrorists who were harassing them for food, shelter and money. On Friday night, we received inputs about the terrorists’ presence in Hardmand Guri. Accordingly, an operation was launched. Before the gunfight, the forces warned them to surrender but the terrorists opened fire, leaving us with no choice but to retaliate.”

“Based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Kulgam’s Hardmand Guri village, a joint team of Army’s 34 RR, CRPF’s 18 Bn and Kulgam Police launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area. As the exercise intensified, holed-up terrorists opened fire at the search party, triggering an encounter,” IG Kumar said.

“In the ensuing gunbattle, four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed and one soldier suffered injuries. The injured was shifted to a hospital and is in a stable condition,” Kumar added. Cops also recovered arms and ammunition from the spot, including one AK-47 rifle, a self-loading rifle (SLR), an INSAS rifle and magazine, a Chinese pistol, and two magazines each of AK-47 and SLR.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. An investigation is underway.

