<p id="thickbox_headline">Four militants affiliated with, Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGH), an al-Qaeda affiliated group, were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s restive Shopian district on Sunday.<br /> <br />Reports said the gun battle erupted in Daramdora area of Keegam, 56 kms from here, after a joint team of Army and J&K police launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO), following ‘specific inputs’ about the presence of ultras in the area.<br /> <br />“The operation was focused on an orchard area. As the security forces tightened the cordon around the hiding militants, they opened fire that triggered an encounter,” a police spokesperson said and added in the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed.<br /> <br />He identified the slain militants as Rafi Hassan Mir, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Showkat Ahmad Mir and Azad Ahmad Khanday, all locals. Reports said they were affiliated with AGH.<br /> <br />Recently the AGH had named Hameed Lelhari as the successor of Zakir Musa, who was killed by security forces on May 23. In a video released on Eid by al-Hurr (official media wing of AGH), the al-Qaeda said Lelhari has replaced Musa as its local commander and Ghazi Ibrahim Khalid appointed as his deputy.<br /> <br />After the killing of Musa, state police chief Dilbag Singh had said it has ended the cult and concept of radical jihad in the state. “Zakir Musa created a new concept and cult of radical jihad and militancy in Kashmir. He was the last militant of such radical ideology. With his killing, security forces have eliminated the last such militant who was influenced by ISIS kind of terrorism in Kashmir,” Singh had said.<br /> <br />However, a senior police officer said, several militants in southern districts of Pulwama and Shopian were still being influenced by the radical AGH ideology to establish the Shariat or the Islamic law in the state.<br /> <br />Over 120 militants of various groups and nearly 70 security forces personnel have been killed in militancy violence in the Valley this year. Over the last more three years, Shopian along with neighbouring Pulwama district have emerged as a hub new age militancy in Kashmir.</p>
<p id="thickbox_headline">Four militants affiliated with, Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGH), an al-Qaeda affiliated group, were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s restive Shopian district on Sunday.<br /> <br />Reports said the gun battle erupted in Daramdora area of Keegam, 56 kms from here, after a joint team of Army and J&K police launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO), following ‘specific inputs’ about the presence of ultras in the area.<br /> <br />“The operation was focused on an orchard area. As the security forces tightened the cordon around the hiding militants, they opened fire that triggered an encounter,” a police spokesperson said and added in the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed.<br /> <br />He identified the slain militants as Rafi Hassan Mir, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Showkat Ahmad Mir and Azad Ahmad Khanday, all locals. Reports said they were affiliated with AGH.<br /> <br />Recently the AGH had named Hameed Lelhari as the successor of Zakir Musa, who was killed by security forces on May 23. In a video released on Eid by al-Hurr (official media wing of AGH), the al-Qaeda said Lelhari has replaced Musa as its local commander and Ghazi Ibrahim Khalid appointed as his deputy.<br /> <br />After the killing of Musa, state police chief Dilbag Singh had said it has ended the cult and concept of radical jihad in the state. “Zakir Musa created a new concept and cult of radical jihad and militancy in Kashmir. He was the last militant of such radical ideology. With his killing, security forces have eliminated the last such militant who was influenced by ISIS kind of terrorism in Kashmir,” Singh had said.<br /> <br />However, a senior police officer said, several militants in southern districts of Pulwama and Shopian were still being influenced by the radical AGH ideology to establish the Shariat or the Islamic law in the state.<br /> <br />Over 120 militants of various groups and nearly 70 security forces personnel have been killed in militancy violence in the Valley this year. Over the last more three years, Shopian along with neighbouring Pulwama district have emerged as a hub new age militancy in Kashmir.</p>