3 Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed by security forces in Kashmir

Srinagar: Three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), including a self styled commander, were killed by the Security Forces in an encounter in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Wednesday, official sources said.

The militants were identified as Jehangir Rafiq Wani, Omar Maqbook, both locals and Abdul Aziz Bhat, resident of Baramulla.

According to the sources, on a tip off about militant movement at 0100 hours, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF laid an ambush in open field at Kanjibal, Tral, in Pulwama.

However, when challenged and asked to surrender, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons.

The sources further said that Security Forces also retaliated and in the brief encounter three militants were killed as well as arms and ammunition were recovered.

Meanwhile, additional Security Forces and police have been deployed in the nearby areas to prevent any demonstration, they added.(UNI)