Srinagar: An Ansar-Gazwat-ul-Hind (AGH)  militant of was killed in a gunfight with government forces in Brenpathri forest area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The gunfight ensued after a joint team of forces including Army’s 42 RR, paramilitary CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police’s SOG launched a search operation in the area following inputs about the presence of militants.

As the searches continued, militants fired upon forces triggering a gunfight, the official said.

Representational Picture

Later Police identified the slain militant killed in a gunfight with government forces at Branpatri, forest area of Tral in Awantipora as Shabir Ahmad Malik who was affiliated with AGH .

Malik, according to a police spokesperson is a resident of Nagbal Tral in Pulwama district.

The spokesperson said that Malik was initially affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT and later on was part of Zakir Musa group.

Shabir, as per police records, was wanted by law for his complicity in “several crimes” including attacks on security establishments and “civilian atrocities”. The spokesperson said that Malik was part of groups responsible for planning and executing attacks in the area.

He said that several “crime cases” were registered against him including case FIR No. 43/15 of Police Station Trikuta Nagar pertaining to the planning and making preparations for carrying out attacks in Jammu.