Hizbul militant killed in encounter

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.

Shoukat Ahmad Tak, a militant affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, was killed in a gunfight at village Kujjan in Kulgam district, a police spokesman said.

He said the encounter broke out when police, Army and CRPF personnel launched a joint search operation in the village following specific information about presence of militants.

The militant was asked to surrender but he opened fire at the search parties and was killed in retaliatory action, the spokesman said adding some arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.