Twenty four hours after he challenged the highly decorated army officer of 44 Rashtriya Riffles (RR) Major Rohit Shukla, Hizbul Mujahedeen Commander Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias as Sameer Tiger was killed in the encounter at the Drubgam village of Pulwama district on Monday. Major Shukla and his aide, who carried out the encounter, suffered injuries and are admitted in the Army's 92 base hospital.

Twenty four hours before the Drubgam operation took place, Sameer Tiger had released a 1.24 minute video of a crouched semi-naked man; confessing to be an Army informer and giving away the names of people, claiming that they were working for the security forces.

In the video, Tiger, who is not visible, is warning Major Shukla to engage in a one-on-one battle with him.

"Shukla Ko Kehna, Sher ne Shikaar Karna Kaya Choda… Kutoon Ne Samja Jungle Hamara Hai…Agar Us Ne Apni Ma Ka Doodh Piya hai Us Ko Koho Samne Aajayee…. Tell Shukla (Major Rohit Shukla) just because the lion has left hunting, the dogs are thinking that the whole jungle is theirs. If Shukla has the gall, tell him to come face to face," Tiger is heard telling the semi naked youth.

However,the security forces received inputs about the presence of Sameer Tiger and his associate in the Drubgam village of Pulwama district, leading to the encounter, which killed two militants.

A joint team of 44 Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Forces and the J&K Police cordoned off the area and began the search operation. Major Shukla was his aide was injured when militants opened fire, informned Vinay Kumar, the Commanding Officer of the 183rd battalion of CRPF.

On July 3, last year Major Shukla had killed two hardcore militants in anti terror operation in Pulwama. Despite being injured in the operation, he led the evacuation of his team which had come under heavy fire from the militants. For displaying indomitable courage and bravery, he was awarded third highest peace time gallantry award Shaurya Chakra. He received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture cermony in Rashtrapati Bhawan last month.

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