Srinagar: Longest surviving Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Ashraf Molvi (57) was killed along with two other militants in woods of Batkoot area of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said Ashraf Molvi along with two other militants have been killed in Pahalgam.
Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi, a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag had joined Hizb in 2013 and soon became most wanted militant in the valley. He was instrumental in recruiting locals into the oufit, the top cop said.
However, idenfication of other two militants is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, sources said the other two militants were Sahab Drange Alias Rafique Drange, resident of Hayar area of bijbehara and khursheed tantray alias Roshan Zameer, resident of Aswara, Bijhbhera.
Earlier, a joint team of Police and 19RR of Army launched a cordon and search operation in the Batkoot forest.
As the joint team of Police intensified their search towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter.
(GNS)
