Srinagar: Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) chief Imtiyaz Shah was among seven militants killed on Friday by security forces in two different encounters in south Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Shopian, a police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, mobile internet has been suspended in Shopian and Pulwama districts as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar has congratulated police and security forces for the successful operations.
The spokesman said that on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint CASO at Nowbugh, Tral, in Pulwama in the wee hours of Friday.
All roads leading to Nowbugh were closed and exit points sealed, he said, adding this morning with the first light when security forces were moving towards particular area, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter in which two militants were killed.
The slain militants included AGuH chief Imtiyaz Shah, he said.
Meanwhile, additional security forces have been deployed in the adjoining areas to prevent any law and order problem.
He said that intermittent firing continued during the night between militants who have entered a local mosque and security forces in the densely populated Jan Mohalla in the main town Shopian.
They said senior Army and police officials were camping in the area to monitor the operation against the militants who refused to surrender and continued firing on security forces.
Troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOP) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a CASO on Thursday evening following a tip off about presence of militants at Jan Mohalla, Shopian main town. However, CASO turned into an encounter when militants hiding there opened fire on security forces.
They said militants were firing from the mosque on security forces deployed in the area.
This morning three militants were killed and three soldiers were injured who have been admitted to 92 Base hospital Srinagar.
Two more militants killed in the encounter, they said.
All roads in the Shopian town have been closed and people were asked to remain indoors. Shops and other business establishments in the town remained closed and traffic suspended since the CASO was launched.
Security forces remained deployed in strength in the entire town to prevent any demonstration. (UNI)