Major blow to Hizbul Mujhadeen outfit, three top militants killed in Pulwama

Srinagar: Security forces dealt a major blow to dreaded Hizbul Mujhadeen outfit when they killed three top militants in Burhan Wani’s hometown of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The encounter comes a day after police arrested top counter terrorism cop for terror links in South Kashmir. Deputy Superintendent of police Davender Singh was arrested along with top Hizbul commanders including Naveed Babu on the highway.

Police said on a credible inputs received, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Gujar Basti, Gulshanpora area of Tral, Awantipora. “During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed ”, said a police spokesman. The killed terrorists have been identified as Umer Fayaz Lone alias Hamad Khan, Faizan Hamid and Adil Bashir Mir alias Abu Dujana.

Those killed as per police records were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen and were wanted by law for their complicity in terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. According to Police records, Umer Fayaz Lone had a long history of terror crime records since 2016 and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area.

“He was part of group responsible for series of terror attacks and many other civilian atrocities including killing of policeman Haleem Kohli civilian Mehraj Din Zarger of Tral”, he said. Similarly, Adil Bashir Mir alias Abu Dujana and Faizan Hamid were also involved in several terror attacks in the area. "They were also part of the group involved in killing of civilian Mehraj Din Zarger”, said the spokesman

Police said incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All these materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other terror crimes”, he said.

In a separate incident, Police along with security forces busted a terrorist hideout in the orchards of village Urpora, Shopian. Police have recovered incriminating materials including ammunition and other substances used by the terrorists.