Hizb commander among 4 killed

Srinagar, July 21: Three militants including a battalion commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen were among four persons killed in separate incidents across the state, police officials said Monday.
A police spokesman claimed that police and 5 Rashtriya Rifles killed two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba in Darend Nagbal in Ganderbal district.
He said that police launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area Sunday evening.
“During the course of the operation,” he said, “police came under heavy firing from the militants holed up in the area. The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing gun battle two militants of LeT were killed.”
He identified the slain militants as Syed Abid Ahmad alias Akasha son of Mukhtar Ahmad of Narwal Punjab Pakistan and Sageer Shah alias Garian son of Hassan Shah of Iptabad Subah Sarah Pakistan.
The police also claimed that the duo was planning to attack the Amarnath yatra convoy bound for Srinagar.
Meanwhile, people held massive protests in Beehama chowk on Monday morning. The protesters were demanding an impartial probe in the “encounter” which they termed fake. The entire area observed a complete shutdown against the incident.
Police and troops claimed that they killed a battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahdeen at Peth Wadarbala in Handwara town of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Officials said that Police and 21 RR cordoned off the area overnight. The operation was put on hold till morning while all escaping rotes for militants were sealed off.
They claimed that Hizb commander Abdul Ahad alias Haroon son of Muhammad Maqbool Mir of Waddar Rajwar was killed this morning. They also claimed recovery of an AK 47 and other ammunition from the possession of the slain militants.
A civilian identified as Mushtaq Ahmed son of Muhammad Shafi of (Maral) was killed by unidentified the militants in Mahore area of district Reasi last night, the police said.
Militants lobbed a grenade towards Police Station Dangiwacha Rafiabad in Baramulla district of north Kashmir on Monday, which exploded outside without causing any damage, reports said.