SRINAGAR: Police and Army Friday claimed that they killed five Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants, active from last two years, in Kangan area of Ganderbal district, in an overnight encounter.
Police said that a joint party of army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police laid siege of Prang, Kangan following reports that a group of militants was headed there from nearby Najwan Nar forest.
Army laid an ambush near Prang Bridge and as soon as militants reached there and began crossing the Indus they were attacked by Army personnel from 24-Rashtrya Rifles and SOG from Ganderbal.
A police official said the group was caught by surprise and they tried to take shelter in a nearby school building. However the swift army action killed them all before they could reach near the building.
CNS quoting reliable sources however said that army had laid a trap after getting the intelligence inputs. They had laid concertina wire around the small bride and placed powerful mine under it. Unsuspecting militants moving in dark did not notice the barbed wire and were blown up after army detonated the mine. However, Army said that all the militants were killed in an encounter which lasted whole night.
Addressing media, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir, Afhad-ul-Mujtaba and General Officer Commanding, Victor Force, R.Nimborkar termed the deaths as a big achievement and a big jolt to militant outfit Hizbul Mujhideen.
The encounter started at 10 in the night and lasted till 7 A.M. We were able to eliminate two militants at around 12:30 of the night while the rest of the three militants engaged Army personnel till 7 in the morning, GOC, Victor Force told reporters.
Earlier armys Srinagar based spokesman in a statement said that, despite difficult terrain and poor visibility conditions, accurate fire was brought down on the militants which resulted in killing of all the five militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen group. The operation was surgically conducted without any collateral damage or casualty to own forces.
Police said the group was active in Akhal, Kangan, Najwan Nar, Gutlibagh and Prang areas of Ganderbal district for past few years.
Five AK 47 rifles and five pouches with AK magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter, they said, adding that a case FIR No. 89/2013 307 RPC and 7/27 Indian Arms Act has been registered in this regard.
Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen in a statement admitted that all the five slain militants were affiliated with the group. Paying rich tribute to the slain militants Hizb reiterated that it would intensity operations against Indian forces.
Hizb has identified the slain militants as commander Qari Assadullah, Mohammad Usman, Mohammad Umar, Javed Ahmed and Hilal Ahmed.
All the five slain militants, according to police, were part of Hizbul Mujahideen. joined the funeral procession of the slain militants and raised pro-freedom slogans.
Hundreds of residents of Prang, Wasun and its adjoining areas, joined their funeral prayers and they were buried in the local grave yard amid anti-India and pro- freedom slogans.
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