KNZ NEWS DESK
Srinagar: One militant has been killed in the ongoing gunfight between government forces and militants in Aripal area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama District.
As per reports the slain militant has been identified as Umar Fayaz alias Hammad Khan who was one of the top commanders of Hizb ul Mujahideen active in the Tral belt.
Earlier in the day an encounter started when government forces including 42 RR of Indian Army, CRPF and Jammu Kashmir police were fired upon by militants during a cordon and search operation in the area.
In the ensuing gunfight, one militant was killed.
A photo of Hammad who is a resident of Seer Jagir area in Tral went viral on social media last year, in which he was seen carrying a machine gun. The police claimed that the gun was later recovered from an encounter site.
Last year, during the kidnappings of policemen kin, his brother was arrested from his home at Seer Jagir village in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama District on August 07. “He was one of the few surviving militants who had joined Militancy during the time of Burhan Wani,” a Local from Tral said
No official statement has been issued about the identity of the Militant as of yet. (with inputs from The Kashmiriyat).
