Budgam: Two militants were killed in Zagoo Arizal area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday morning.
The gun fight raged in forest area of Zagoo when government forces cordoned off it and launched a search operation in private huts.
The militants present in the huts opened fire. During the exchange of fire, two militants were killed.
The encounter sparked clashes and spontaneous shutdown in the surrounding areas. Reports said that Forces lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesting youth. Locals said that Forces used live ammunition during the clashes, a charge refuted by police.
A police official said that one of the slain militant was a local whom he identified as Mukhtiyar Ahmed Khan of Brass Arizal Khansahab.
Thousands of people participated in the funeral of Khan who was laid to rest amid massive protest and pro-freedom slogans. Khan according to local sources was active from since November 2016 and was affiliated with militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. He is survived by his parents, a brother and three sisters. (CNS)
