Al-Badr chief Gani Khawaja killed in Sopore: IGP Kashmir

SRINAGAR — A top Al-Badr militant was killed in a gunfight with a joint team of Police and Army at Tujjar area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.

Officials said that a team of Police launched a cordon and search operation in Tujjar amid specific inputs about the presence of the militants.

As the police team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering off the gunfight.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir), Vijay Kumar said that the slain militant has been identified as chief of the Al-Badr, Gani Khawaja.

The top police officer said that it was a “major success for security forces as this operation was carried cleanly on a very specific input which was received by police.”

A police official said that a cordon-and-search-operation was launched by police at around 1852 hours on a credible input.

“During the CASO, militant fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated effectively, triggering off an encounter,” the officer said.

He said, later on, other security forces joined and during the exchange of gunfight, the militant was killed. “Arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of slain militant,” the official added.