SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists — one of them involved in killing a sarpanch and his wife in Anantnag last year — were shot dead in an overnight anti-terror operation in Hangalgund area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.
The slain terrorists were identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat and Basit Ahmed Wani, both from Anantnag. Junaid had been active since June 10, 2018, while Basit had been operating since August 18 2021, IGP (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar said. Basit was involved in the murder of sarpanch Ghulam Rasool Dar and his wife, a panch, on September 9, 2021, in Anantnag, added the IGP.
A joint team of the Army, CRPF and J&K Police laid a cordon in the area on Thursday afternoon and was evacuating civilians when holed-up terrorists opened fire and lobbed grenades at the security forces around 4.15pm, said a defence spokesperson.
“After firing in retaliation, the security forces first evacuated the residents before resuming the operation. The terrorists were then engaged and both killed. An AK rifle, one pistol and other war-like stores were recovered from the site of the encounter,” said the spokesperson, adding that the operation was called off around 1.30pm on Friday.