Srinagar, Aug 28 (UNI) Four militants, including a self-styled District Commander of Al-Badr were killed by security forces in an encounter, which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian on Friday afternoon, a police spokesman said.
A militant surrendered during the operation, a defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said adding two ak rifles and three pistols were recovered from the slain militants.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar said the killing of Al-Badr district commander identified as Shakoor Parray and three other militants was a big success for security forces in south Kashmir.
Shakoor was posted at SDOP Anantnag when he fled away alongwith four AK rifles. He later formed Al-Badr outfit in January 2016.
Mr Kumar said he had motivated about ten youths to join his organisation. However, four were eliminated today and one was arrested alive,he said.
He said another militant Suhail Bhat was responsible for the kidnapping a panch Nissar Ahmad Bhat, resident of Khonmoh in Srinagar. He said Nissar has gone to the house of Suhail Bhat. However, Nissar after leaving the house of Suhail was abducted in Shopian and his body buried in an orchard. The body was on Friday recovered from orchards.
The Spokesman said on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Kiloora Shopian.
However, an encounter ensued after a search party was moving towards a particular area where the militants were hiding.
He said two militants were killed in the initial encounter in Shopian. Later, two more militants were killed in the encounter.

UNI BAS RJ 2149