Srinagar, Nov 12: District commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was among two militants killed in a gunfight with joint team of police and army in overnight gunfight at Chawalgam area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam, officials said on Friday.

The police identified the killed militants as District commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat. “Shiraz was active since 2016 and was involved in recruiting innocent youth into (militants) ranks,” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in a tweet. “It is big success for us,” the IGP added.

Earlier a police officer said that one militant was killed in initial firing and as precautionary measures the operation was suspended due to darkness.

The operation was resumed with the first light of the morning during which one more militant was killed, he said.

The gunfight had ensued when joint team of Police and army launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Chawalgam area.

The officer said the joint party came under heavy fire from the hiding militants which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, the officer added. gns