Hizbul militant killed in encounter, angry mob on rampage in Sopore

Samir Ahmad Wani, alias Jaan Sahib, was killed in a gunbattle with security forces at Nagri Hatmulla in Kupwara in the morning, a police official said.

He said Wani, a resident of Sopore in the neighbouring Baramulla district, was a ‘divisional commander’ of the terror outfit. One AK rifle and some ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, he added. 

Meanwhile, a mob in Sopore town set ablaze a police vehicle, which was on its way from Bandipora to Kupwara to take a detenue for a court appearance.

As soon as news of Wani’s death reached Sopore, a group of men started pelting stones on vehicles, including that of the police, a police official said. He said the mob also set their vehicle ablaze.

“The eight policemen and the detenue managed to escape from the spot and took refuge in a civilian house,” he added.

The trapped policemen and the detenue were later safely rescued from the house, the official said.