By IANS
Srinagar : Four guerrillas of the Hizbul Mujaheedin (HM) militant outfit were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in a south Kashmir village Wednesday, police said.
Troops of 1 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police surrounded Watipora, 85 km from here, in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, on receiving specific information about the presence of heavily armed militants.
“As the security forces were busy searching the village, militants hiding in a house opened fire on the surrounding troops, resulting in a sustained gunfight,” Inspector General of Police S.M. Sahai told reporters here.
“All the four militants including district commander, Ghulam Hassan Bhat alias Tahir Maqsood were killed,” Sahai said.
“Bhat was involved in the June 2006 south Kashmir massacre of labourers,” the police officer said.
Top police and army officers described the killing as a severe blow to the HM.
“The entire unit of HM operating in Kulgam area has been eliminated with this operation,” Sahai claimed.
“Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the militants,” he said.