SrinagarAt least four militants, three of them in Shopian and an army soldier were killed in three separate encounters in South, Central and North Kashmir in last 24 hours, reports said on Monday evening.
In the late evening gunfight with forces at Keller area of Shopian district in southern Kashmir three militants were killed, police said in a late night statement.
An official said that gunfight began after a joint party of army, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF cordoned off the Gatipora village of the Shopian district following specific inputs about the presence of militants.
He said that militants hiding in the village opened fire after forces approached the suspected site, drawing retaliation from the forces.
Police said that three militants have been killed and the encounter has ended.
Police identified the slain as Zahid Mir r/o Ganaupura, Shopian, Irfan Abdullah Ganie r/o Heff Shirmal, Shopian and Asif Ahmad Paul of Kathokalan, Shopian.
Jaish Commander
Meanwhile police claimed a major breakthrough Monday saying it has killed Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Khalid in a brief encounter at Ladoora area of Baramulla district.
Reports said that Khalid fired on police naka party at Ladoora. The party had laid a naka to catch him after the inputs about his movement.
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As soon as the militant reached the naka spot, he fired at the party. There was a brief exchange of fire, a police official said.
He escaped from the spot and entered into a residential house, the official said. He later left the residential house and took refuge in an outer house where he was reportedly killed.
Khalid, a resident of Pakistan, according to police sources, was a most wanted militant and was categorised as A++. Police said he was involved in a series of killings in northern part of Kashmir.
Earlier an army trooper was killed in the intervening night of Sunday-Monday after he suffered a bullet injury in Drang village of Khag Tehsil of Central Kashmirs Budgam district, Army said on Monday.
Defense Spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that an army man identified as Subedar Rajkumar of 53 Rashtriya Rifles received a bullet injury when the Army patrolling party came under fire last night in general area of Drang.
Sources said that deceased trooper had received a bullet in his thigh in an intervening night of Sunday-Monday, adding that he was rushed to PHC Khag where from he was referred to JVC Srinagar where doctors declared him brought dead.
Kalia said that Army patrolling party came under fire last night in general area Drang in district Budgam. The fire was returned. However, one army man was killed in cross-fire.
Meanwhile, Army paid tributes to the slain trooper. In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen JS Sandhu, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid homage to the slain soldier.
Sub Raj Kumar (47) had joined Army in 1990 and hailed from Village Khanni in Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his wife, Toshi Devi and two sons.
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