One Hizb guerrilla escapes, one killed in Kashmir village

SRINAGAR - One Hizbul Mujahideen guerrilla managed to escape while another was killed following a gunfight with security forces that had started the evening before in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said Tuesday.

“The encounter has ended. One militant was killed during the operation,” a police officer said while disclosing that the other had managed to escape the security cordon in Pulwama’s Abhama village, about 50 km from here.

The operation had begun Monday evening when a team of state police and troops from the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) had surrounded a house in Abhama following information that guerrillas were hiding inside.

“Militants started firing at the surrounding troops after being challenged. The fire was returned and a gunfight ensued. So far, one militant has been killed while another is holed up and firing at the security forces,” a police officer had earlier said.

The operation, halted Monday night, had resumed in the morning.