Srinagar: A Hizb ul Mujahideen (HM) outfit militant was killed by government forces in an encounter in south Kashmir Shopian’s Nadigam area on Wednesday.
The encounter started at Nadigam area of Shopian after a cordon and search operation was carried out by a joint team of Police, CRPF and Army.
In the subsequent gunfight, police said that one militant was killed by forces. Police said that the slain militant has been identified as Umar Ishfaq Malik @ Musa, a resident of Bongam Shopian linked with proscribed militant outfit HM.
It was further said that the slain militant was a categorized one and was active since 2020. “He was involved in several militant crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities including the recent attack on ASI Shabir Ahmad at Amishijipora Shopian while he was returning back from a nearby mosque after offering prayers,” said the police.
Malik, as per police, was also instrumental in motivating the gullible youth to join militant folds and other criminal activities. Besides, he was also providing logistic and other support to the active militants in the area before joining the militant ranks, they added.
After the operation, police said that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” said police.