By IANS,
Srinagar : Two militants, including a top commander of the Al-Badr terror outfit, have been killed in separate gun battles in north Kashmir, a police officer said Wednesday.
A notorious guerrilla of the Al-Badr outfit identified as Abu Hamza and an army trooper were killed during a fierce gunfight in Amargrah village near Sopore town, over 50 km from here, that started late Tuesday, the official told IANS.
Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police surrounded a house in the village on specific information about the presence of militants holed up inside.
“A militant commander fired at the security forces from inside the house and the fire was returned. In the gun battle, the holed-up militant was killed. One house was damaged,” he said.
The officer said that Hamza, who was earlier associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba, had been the operational commander of the Al-Badr outfit.
Officials here discounted media reports that Hamza was involved in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Meanwhile one militant was killed in a separate gun battle in Baki Haker village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
“The operation is still in progress,” said the officer. Two houses were damaged during the gunfight, he added.
Security forces had surrounded a house Monday afternoon in Baki Haker on a tip-off about militants present inside.