Militant killed, soldier wounded in encounter in Kashmir’s Shopian

The army and police were engaged in a joint operation against militants in Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday, an army official said.

A militant who had snatched a rifle from the residence of a politicain in September was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday, police said.

Security forces personnel cordoned off the Dubjan area in Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.(AP File Photo)

An Indian Army soldier was injured in the encounter that started on Saturday morning in the Dubjan area. He is stable, an army official said.

The Hizbul Mujahedeen militant, a resident of Kellar village, has been identified as Waseem Ahmad Khanday.

A senior police officer told HT that Khanday had joined the militant ranks after snatching a rifle a month ago from the personal security officer of a former member of the legislative council (MLC), Abdul Rehman Tukroo.

Sources said Khanday had taken away the rifle and 30 rounds from the officer around 5am on September 28.

Over 60 weapons had been snatched from policemen ever since unrest began in the Valley following the death of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in July. Police sources say many of the weapons have been recovered.

In a video released in October, Wani’s purported successor Zakir Rashid Bhat had asked Kashmiri youth to snatch weapons from government forces and join the militant outfit.