Top Hizbul commander killed in J&K gunfight

A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and his associate were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said.

The two were killed in the Khanabal area gun battle. Sources identified the top Hizbul commander as Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Altaf Kachroo and his associate as Umar Rashid.

The gunfight started earlier in the day after the security forces surrounded Binpora village following information about the presence of the militants there.

"As the joint forces of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), special operations group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) approached the house, the holed up militants fired upon them triggering the encounter," a police officer had said.

"Firing exchanges have now stopped. The bodies of the slain militants and their weapons have been recovered," the officer said.

Kachroo belonging to Redwani village of Kulgam district carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head. His killing is being seen as a major success in the anti-militancy operations in the south Kashmir area.

Curfew has been announced in Anantnag town to maintain law and order.

Clashes between stone pelting youth and the security forces are now going on in the area.

Authorities suspended train services between Baramulla and Bannihil towns immediately after the gunfight started.

Mobile Internet services have also been suspended as a precautionary measure in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.

--IANS

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