In a successful operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) today eliminated self-styled supreme commander of the Harkat-Ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) at Kokernag in south Kashmir today. Elsewhere in the state, nine militants were among 11 persons killed while a BSF camp was attacked with grenades during the past 24 hours.
A BSF spokesman told UNI that troops of the 77 battalion, on a tip off, cordoned a village at Kokernag in Anantnag district this morning to nab militants.
When the troops were about to storm a particular house, they came under heavy fire from the militants. The troops returned the fire and, in the ensuing shootout, Huji supreme commander Azad Hussain Zargar alias Bilal Siddique, a resident of Kishtwar, was killed.
Bilal had taken over as supreme commander of Huji two months back and was involved in a number of militant activities, the spokesman said adding that he has been active since 1992 in Doda and Anantnag districts.
One AK rifle, two magazines, 42 rounds and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.
Official sources said an encounter took place between security forces and militants at old Baramulla this afternoon during which a foreign militant was killed and a girl was critically wounded.
The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, they said.
