2 Hizbul terrorists gunned down in J&K; militants hit back killing four policemen

Srinagar: On a day of mixed fortunes, the Jammu and Kashmir Police gunned down two dreaded militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including one of the Valley's oldest surviving terrorists, in Anantnag district on Wednesday but also lost four men in neighbouring Shopian.

The day began with an encounter breaking out in Khanabal area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district when police and para-military forces cordoned off a house in Muniward village.

There was specific intelligence about the presence of Altaf Ahmad Dar, also known as 'Altaf Kachroo' alias Moin, considered to be the 'chief architect' of attacks on policemen in the Kashmir Valley.

"During the searches, terrorists fired on the police party, which retaliated leading to an encounter in which two terrorists were eliminated. They were identified as Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Ataf Kachroo alias Moin of Hawoora Mishipora and Omar Rashid Wani of Khudwani Kulgam," a police spokesman said.

It was a specific operation carried out swiftly by the security forces, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Swayam Prakash Pani said. "In the action both terrorists, who were involved in several cases of civilian atrocities and attacks on policemen, were eliminated," Pani added.

However, even before the dust of the gun-battle in Anantnag settled, news came in from Arhama in the neighbouring district of Shopian that terrorists had mercilessly pumped bullets into four policemen, leaving two dead on the spot. The other two were declared 'brought dead' by hospital authorities.

"The martyred policemen were identified as Constable Ishfaq Ahmad Mir, Constable Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Constable Mohammad Iqbal Mir and SPO Adil Manzoor Bhat," the police spokesman said.

Special Police Officer Bhat had turned 18 only this March.

Director General of Police S P Vaid and IGP Pani visited Shopian and paid tributes to the policemen who fell to the bullets of the terrorists.

"Terrorists in the afternoon fired indiscriminately upon a police party at Arhama in district Shopian," the spokesman said. The four ill-fated policemen were caught unaware as they were repairing their vehicle, he added.