Thaindian News

Srinagar, Oct 12 (IANS) Security forces Wednesday gunned down two separatist guerrillas in a day-long encounter in the Jammu and Kashmir. One of them was the longest surviving Hizbul Mujaheedin commander in the valley, police said.

A police officer said that troops of 5 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police jointly surrounded a forested area in Gutlibagh in Ganderbal district on a specific information about the presence of a group of guerrillas there.

“Two militants of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit hiding in the area opened fire on the search party, which was returned, triggering an encounter,” the officer said.

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed. One of them was identified as Mushtaq Khan alias Mushtaq Janghi,” he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Range, Abdul Gani Mir said that Mushtaq Janghi was active since the inception of militancy and he was the longest surviving militant in the valley.

He said the slain commander of Hizbul Mujaheedin was involved in the killing of about 25 civilians.

“The bodies of the slain militants have been retrieved from the forest. Two AK-47 rifles, four AK magazines and a Chinese grenade were recovered from the killed militants,” he said.