Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Aug 12 (GNS): A top Hizb-ul-Muajhideen militant commander and a soldier were killed in a gunfight at Kamrazipora in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Wednesday.
Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh identified the slain militant as Azaad Lalhari of Pulwama.
“Azaad Lalhari was involved in the killing of police head constable Anoop Singh on 22 May 2020 at Prichu Pulwahma where he fired at a Naka party,” DGP Dilbag Singh told GNS.
He said six FIRs were against him for militant related killings. “Earlier he was detained under PSA as OGW and became active again,” the DGP said, adding that charge sheet had been filed against him in two cases earlier.
Besides the militant commander, a soldier—Sowar Jilajeet Singh Yadav (25) of UP— was also killed and another soldier was injured in the gunfight early today.
Official sources said that militants fired upon a joint team of police, army and CRPF’s 53 battalion after they launched a cordon-and-search operation at Kamrazipura area in the district. In the initial exchange of firing, two army men were injured and were evacuated to 92 Base Hospital here where one of them succumbed to critical wounds.
As per police records, Azaad was involved in planning and executing several militant attacks in the area, a police spokesperson said.
“Several crime cases were registered against him including Case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to the killing of HC Anoop Singh at Prichoo Pulwama, besides he was also involved in other terror crime cases including FIR No.’s 274/2014, 121/2015, 21/2017, 48/2017, 36/2020 of district Pulwama and case FIR No. 263/2017 of district Budgam.”
The spokesman said that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other crimes,” the spokesman said, adding, “Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the body of the killed militant shall be sent to Baramulla for his burial and last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities.” (GNS)