Kulgam encounter: Five terrorists killed, two security personnel injured

Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled top commander of the Pakistan-based group were killed and two Army personnel injured in an encounter in Kulgam district of southern Kashmir on Thursday, said officials.

They said the operation was a major breakthrough for the armed forces and a "big jolt" to the Hizbul Mujahideen network as its longest surviving commander, Farooq Ahmad Bhat alias Farooq Nalli, who had been active since 2015, was killed along with Mushtaq Ahmad Yatoo, Irfan Yaqoob, Adil Hajam and Yasir Javed, all residents of Kulgam district. The security forces received a tip-off regarding the presence of militants in Kader village of Kulgam on Wednesday evening and a cordon was laid around 3:30 am on Thursday. After 20 minutes, an exchange of fire started and the operation continued for six hours. The injured Army personnel were under treatment and stable, said officials. They said Bhat was named in at least 37 first information reports and was involved in several militant activities over the years.

"Farooq played an important role in radicalising youth and reviving militancy in southern Kashmir. HM has been wiped out from Shopian and Kulgam and it is a major jolt to militant networks across the valley," Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan of south Kashmir based 2 sector RR of the Indian Army told media persons. He said while it could not be termed the "end" of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir, the operation had definitely acutely impacted the group's capability to organise and strike anytime soon.


The deputy inspector general of J&K Police in southern Kashmir, Javed Ahmad Mattoo, said that arms, ammunition, cash and some important documents were recovered from the encounter spot.

"Recruitment of locals has decreased as the situation has changed on the ground in a positive direction," he said.