<p>In a major blow to militancy, a top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, Sajad Afghani, was killed by security forces in a three-day-long gunfight in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday.</p>.<p>Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, while confirming the killing of Wilayat Lone alias Sajad Afghani congratulated police and security forces for the successful operation.</p>.<p>“He (Afghani) was instrumental in recruiting militants in south Kashmir, especially in Shopian. It’s a big success to security forces and I congratulate them for this operation,” he told reporters.</p>.<p>On Sunday, a local Lashkar-e-Taiba militant identified as Jahangir Ahmad was also killed in an encounter. A US-made M4- rifle and 36 armour-piercing rounds were recovered from his possession.</p>.<p>The gunbattle had erupted on Friday evening after the army and J&K police launched a search operation in Rawalpora village of Shopian following specific inputs about the presence of Afghani and other militants in the area.</p>.<p>Due to darkness, the operation was suspended during nights, a police official said. However, the cordon remained intact for two nights.</p>.<p>Three houses were also damaged in the encounter while several protesters, who pelted stones at security forces were injured in the retaliatory action by the police.</p>.<p>Reports stated a 22-year-old youth identified as Arif Wagay, who suffered an injury in his left eye due to pellets was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Sunday.</p>.<p>As a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in the Shopian district.</p>
<p>In a major blow to militancy, a top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, Sajad Afghani, was killed by security forces in a three-day-long gunfight in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday.</p>.<p>Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, while confirming the killing of Wilayat Lone alias Sajad Afghani congratulated police and security forces for the successful operation.</p>.<p>“He (Afghani) was instrumental in recruiting militants in south Kashmir, especially in Shopian. It’s a big success to security forces and I congratulate them for this operation,” he told reporters.</p>.<p>On Sunday, a local Lashkar-e-Taiba militant identified as Jahangir Ahmad was also killed in an encounter. A US-made M4- rifle and 36 armour-piercing rounds were recovered from his possession.</p>.<p>The gunbattle had erupted on Friday evening after the army and J&K police launched a search operation in Rawalpora village of Shopian following specific inputs about the presence of Afghani and other militants in the area.</p>.<p>Due to darkness, the operation was suspended during nights, a police official said. However, the cordon remained intact for two nights.</p>.<p>Three houses were also damaged in the encounter while several protesters, who pelted stones at security forces were injured in the retaliatory action by the police.</p>.<p>Reports stated a 22-year-old youth identified as Arif Wagay, who suffered an injury in his left eye due to pellets was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Sunday.</p>.<p>As a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in the Shopian district.</p>
