Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces kill six suspected militants in encounter in Bijbehara
The police said a man wanted in the murder of journalist Shujaat Bukhari was among those killed in the encounter.
Police said that six suspected militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijbehara town of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Azad Malik, one of the six suspected militants, was wanted in the murder of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Buukhari, ANI quoted police as saying.
The security forces recovered arms and ammunition from the militants, whose identities are being ascertained, the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
A joint team of the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group (Anantnag) launched a cordon and search operation in Sekipora area before dawn on Thursday, after receiving inputs about militants there, Greater Kashmir reported. When the team approached their hiding spot, the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight.
Internet services in Anantnag were suspended as a “precautionary measure” following the encounter.
Indian security forces killed two suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Tikken area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on November 10. On October 25, six suspected militants were killed in two gunfights with security forces in Baramulla and Anantnag districts.
#JammuAndKashmir Police: The 6 terrorists neutralised in Anantnag encounter have been identified as Azad Malik, Unais Shafi, Shahid Bashir, Basit Ishtiyaq, Aqib Najar and Firdous Najar. Terrorist Azad Malik was wanted in Journalist Shujaat Bukhari's murder too.
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2018