Jammu and Kashmir: Top HM commander among 3 militants killed in Shopian encounter

Mobile internet has been snapped to prevent spread of rumours in Shopian, where several persons were injured in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Shopian and Pulwama are going to polls in the third and final phase of voting in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency on May 6. First two phases in the constituency in Anantnag and Kulgam were held last month.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that following specific information about presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Imamsahib Shopian in the wee hours on Friday.

When the security forces were moving towards a particular area, the militants hiding there, opened fire, he said, adding that troops also retaliated, ensuing in an encounter. Three militants were killed and a soldier was wounded, he added.

He said huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.

Official sources said that the slain militants were identified as Lateef Tiger, who was the last surviving member of slain HM commander Burhan Wani's group, Tariq Molvi and Shariq Ahmad.

'The trio was affiliated to HM,' they added.

A complete shutdown was observed in Shopian while Islamic University of Sciences and Technology (IUST), Awantipora in Pulwama district suspended classes due to tense situation after the killing of militants.