2 Hizbul terrorists, including separatist leader’s son, killed in Srinagar encounter

The operation began around midnight when security forces encircled a cluster of houses in the dense neighbourhood of the city. Local residents said they heard an exchange of fire in the locality around midnight.

Security forces gunned two terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including the son of a Kashmiri separatist leader, after an hours-long gunbattle on Tuesday in Nawa Kadal locality of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Three security force personnel were also injured during the operation, an officer said.(ANI / Twitter)

Three security force personnel were also injured during the operation, which is still underway, an officer said.

The terrorists have been identified as Junaid Ashraf Khan from Srinagar and Tariq Ahmed Sheikh from Pulwama.

Watch | Srinagar: 2 terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in Nawa Kadal

 

Khan, the Hizbul’s “divisional commander”, is the younger son of Mohammad Ashraf Khan Sehrai, the chairperson of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Kashmir. And, Sheikh had joined terrorists in March this year.

A senior Kashmir police officer later said: “Today’s successful conduct of joint operation by police and CRPF in downtown Srinagar leading to elimination of two top terrorists should be a clear enough indication to our tongue leashing warriors how our police and security forces work in tandem and shoulder to shoulder here in Jammu & Kashmir even in most demanding and challenging circumstances”.

Two weapons and ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site, a police spokesperson said earlier.

The operation began around midnight when personnel of the state police and Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF) encircled a cluster of houses in the dense neighbourhood of the city.

Local residents said they heard an exchange of fire in the locality around midnight.

Mobile internet service in the city has been suspended as a precautionary measure, officials said.

“#Encounter has started at #Kanemazar #Nawakadal area of #Srinagar. JKP and CRPF are on the job. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir zone police had tweeted earlier.