Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Chief Dr. Saifullah on Sunday was killed in an encounter in the outskirts of Srinagar city, security forces declared. It is a major success against militancy, they added.
The security forces launched a joint search operation with the police in the Rangreth area of the city outskirts. When the security forces reached the spot, the militants in the hiding started firing, triggering an encounter. “In the exchange of firing, the militant was killed, ” said Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police, in a press conference here.
Vijay Kumar confirmed the killing of Saifullah. The forces also arrested one suspected militant from the encounter site.
Saifullah was the last surviving militant of the Burhan group and was appointed as Chief of HM after Riyaz Naikoo. He was counted among the most wanted militants by security forces and was listed at A++ Category.
Meanwhile, minor clashes erupted in the area soon after the encounter ended.
