Thaindian News

Jammu, Aug 6 (IANS) A 2011 Delhi High Court blast accused, Amir Kamal, was among two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants killed Monday in a shootout with security forces in the mountainous Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

A senior police officer said that, based on a tip-off, they launched an operation to nab top militants reported to be hiding in Dachan areas, about 270 km north-east of Jammu.

“We launched an operation today (Monday) morning by throwing a cordon around the area. As we closed in on the hideout of the militants, a fire fight began that continued for over an hour,” he said.

According to reports reaching Kishtwar, two militants have been shot dead in the gun batle.

“One of them is believed to be Amir (Kamal), code named Akram, who was involved in the Delhi High Court blast,” the police officer said.

Amir was a hardened militant who is believed to have arranged explosives and planter for the blast. The other person killed was identified as Shafi. Both belong to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the officer said.

Since the site of the gun battle was very remote with poor radio or other means of communication, “the other details will take some more time to come in”, he said.

But he described this as “a major blow to the HM organisation in the area”.

At least 10 people were killed and over 70 people were injured in the bomb blast outside Delhi High Court Sep 7, 2011.