Jaish militant commander killed in Sopore gunfight

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, April 8

A militant commander of Jaish-e-Mohamad was killed in a gunfight in north Kahsmir’s Sopore on Wednesday, Police said.

The gunfight erupted on Wednesday morning when joint teams of forces were carrying a search operation in Gulabad area in Sopore, some 50 km from Srinagar, following an input about the presence of two to four militants in the area.

“The cordon and search operation was launched Tuesday evening. A tight cordon was maintained by the forces in the area for the whole night. This morning as forces began the search operation, the hiding militants  opened fire which triggered a gunfight. In the ensuing gunfight a local militant Commander of Jaish was killed,” a police officer said. “The combing operation is on. “

The officer identified the slain militant as Sajad Ahmed Dar , a resident of Saidpora Sopore.

It could not be ascertained if the other militants managed to flee or not. A house was also damaged in the exchange of fire.

The counter insurgency operation in Kashmir have picked up in past few days. Ten militants and six securitymen have been killed in different operations since Saturday in Kashmir.