Engineering student turned militant killed in Kashmir encounter

An engineering student-turned-militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama, Aslam Choudary said a cordon-and-search operation was launched by a joint team of army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles, police and CRPF in orchards of Kangan, Pulwama, following inputs about the presence of some militants.

As the joint party approached the suspected spot, the militants hiding in the area opened fire triggering off an encounter, he told DH adding one militant was killed in the retaliatory action by the forces.

The slain militant was identified as Musavir Wani, a resident of nearby Dalipora village, affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Wani, according to reports was a B. Tech student in a Chandigarh college before joining the militancy.

The latest encounter comes six days after 13 militants were killed in three separate encounters with security forces in neighbouring Shopian and Anantnag districts on April 1.

Reports said as soon the news about the killing of a local militant spread, clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in Kangan and other parts of Pulwama.

Meanwhile, security forces on Friday arrested a Pakistan militant, who was injured in a gunfight last month, from Juktiyal area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district. The militant had reportedly escaped in injured condition from the forests of Check Fateh Khan in Kupwara, after five militants and five security personnel were killed in a two-day encounter on March 20 and 21.

Sources said the militant, identified the militant as Zabiullah alias Hamzah son of Sonaullah, a resident of Multan, Pakistan was without arms and was in bad health condition when forces arrested him.

A police officer while confirming the arrest said a radio set has been recovered from his possession.