Jammu and Kashmir: Six Zakir Musa men killed in Pulwama Encounter

Srinagar: Indian security forces have killed six terrorists of the Al Qaeda-affiliate Zakir Musa’s group Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, in a gunfight on Saturday, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

An aide of Zakir Moosa, one of Kashmir's most wanted terrorist, was also killed in the operation. The former Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Zakir Moosa is the head of al Qaeda-linked group Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind, which is said to have links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

ALSO READ: PM Modi interacts with DGPs, IGs; discusses security, policing issues

The encounter between the two happened when Police forces were conducting searches after getting a tip-off about the presence of terrorists there. The Security forces launched a cordon and search operation right after the confirmed information of their presence in the area, when the terrorists fired upon them, triggering the encounter.

“Six terrorists have been killed in the Tral area encounter. Weapons and war-like stores have been recovered. The operation is over,” Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told media.

ALSO READ: AAP asks Alka Lamba to resign from her MLA post

Soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), troopers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and special operations group (SOG) men surrounded Arampora village early on following specific inputs about terrorist presence, a police officer said.

“As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired triggering the encounter in which six militants were killed belonging to Zakir Musa outfit, Ansar Ghazwatul Hind."

“Exact identity of the other slain militants is being ascertained,” the police officer added.

Mobile Internet services and the rail services between the valley and the Bannihal town of Jammu region was suspended.

ALSO READ: India celebrates 131st birth-anniversary of ‘Ramanujan’; The man who knew infinity