Three Al-Qaeda militants gunned down by Indian forces

Srinagar: Three militants, reportedly belonging to Zakir Musa group of “Al-Qaeda” were killed in a fierce encounter by security forces in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, a senior police officer said this afternoon. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Munir Ahmad Khan said on a tip off about the presence of militants in village Gulab Bagh, Tral, in Pulwama district, security forces and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation today. However, when the particular area was being sealed, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate fire with automatic weapons on security forces, ensuing an encounter.

Mr Khan said all the three militants holed up in the area were killed. We have recovered the bodies and two ak rifles and a pistol so far, he added. The IGP said as per the photograph released recently by the Zakir Musa, all the slain militants were there in the picture and belong to the group. Zakir has formed his own party after he threatened Hurriyat and other separatists leaders declaring that “ armed struggle” in Kashmir was not for secular movement but for Islam.

Zakir was expelled from the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) but was later appointed Al-Qaeda head in India. With this a total of 17 militants, including five infiltrators were killed in different encounters this month in the valley and on Line of Control (LoC). (UNI)