Two militants killed during gunfight in Bijbehara

ANANTNAG — Two militants, including a top commander of Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit, were on Tuesday killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police officials told KNO, adding that the slain commander was involved in the June 12 attack at Anantnag where in five CRPF men were killed and a police officer injured who later succumbed.

According to officials, the encounter that started after a specific input that militants were hiding in a house at Wopzan area of Bijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.  “As the security forces zeroed in on the house, the militants fired indiscriminately, triggering a gun-battle. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed,” he said.

The officer told KNO that the slain militant was identified as Fayaz Panzoo and his associate whose identity is being ascertained. “Panzoo was involved in the deadly attack on CRPF personnel at  Anantnag town on June 12 in which five CRPF men were killed and SHO Arshad Khan was seriously injured and later succumbed to injuries, the official told KNO, adding that from the Panzoo’s possession a magazine containing steel-coated bullets were recovered that have been sent for forensic testing.

The identity of the other slain militant is being ascertained, he added. The police official termed the killing of Panzoo as a “big achievement”.  “Yes indeed, the killing of Panzoo is obviously a big achievement,” he said.