Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off about presence of militants in Suthu Kothair of Nowgam, security forces launched a cordon and began search operations in the wee hours. The militants opened fire on security forces during the search operation, triggering a gunbattle in which two ultras were killed. The slain militants have been identified as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi, a PhD scholar who had joined the militant ranks, and Asif Ahmad, the official said. Sofi was preparing for the civil service exams before joining militancy in October 2016.
IANS