A self-styled commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit was killed while three soldiers and a civilian were injured in an overnight encounter between security forces and ultras in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday.According to Kashmir Zone Police, three soldiers and a civilian were injured in the gunfight and the operation is still underway.The police identified the slain militant as a Hizbul Mujahideen commander Nisar Ahmad Khanday. Khanday had joined the militant ranks four years ago in 2018.As the joint team of forces was zeroing in on the target, the militants hiding in the village opened indiscriminate fire trying to break the security cordon. The joint team of forces retaliated leading to a gun battle.
This comes following targeted killings of Kashmiri Hindus and non-locals in the Kashmir valley region. Notably, a migrant labourer identified as 17-year old Dilkhush Kumar from Bihar was shot down by terrorists on Thursday evening in Budgam. On the same day, Vijay Kumar, a bank manager was killed by terrorists in Kulgam. Rajni Bala, a Kashmiri Hindu and teacher from Samba district was killed by the terrorists .In a key security meeting in New Delhi on targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that high-security arrangements should be made for the safety of Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris.
