Srinagar, Jan 20 (UNI) Three Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed on Monday in an encounter which ensued when a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by security forces in south Kashmir district of Shopian.

Official sources told UNI that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Groups (SOG) of J&K police, Army and CRPF at Wachi in Shopian.

However, when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. “The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter,” they said.
“Three militants belonging to HM were killed in the exchange of fire,” sources said, adding huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.
Two of the militants have been identified as Adil Sheikh and Waseem Wani. “The identity of the third militant is being ascertained,” they said.
Sources said that Sheikh was responsible for looting eight weapons from the residence of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Ajaj Mir from Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar on September 29, 2018.
Additional security forces were rushed to further cordon off the area to foil any attempts by militants to escape.

UNI ABS PS 1401