Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Sabzar Bhat who succeeded slain militant, leader Burhan Wani, was killed on Saturday along with another militant in a gunfight with security forces in Pulwama that triggered protests in the Kashmir Valley.
Director General of Police (DGP), S.P. Vaid confirmed Bhat's death.
Bhat alias Abu Zarar had succeeded Wani who was killed on July 8 last year in a security operation in Anantnag.
Bhat carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head and was at the top of the security forces' wanted list.
Massive protests erupted at many places in south, central and north Kashmir following Bhat's killing in the gunfight in Saimoh village.
Markets were shut in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian towns immediately after news about the killing spread. Internet services have been snapped to avoid rumour mongering. Authorities had only on Friday evening lifted a ban on social media that was imposed in April.
Students of a polytechnic institute and a college in Srinagar started pelting stones at police while a protest was underway in Nowhatta.
On Friday evening, a patrol party of 42 Rashtriya Rifles battalion was fired upon by militants in Tral, but there were no casualties in the brief encounter as the militants managed to flee the spot. After the shootout, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area and they were able to establish contact with the militants.
The security forces had maintained a tight cordon around the area the entire night to ensure that the militants did not escape.
There were also reports of clashes between locals and security forces in the area.
Meanwhile, six militants were killed in Rampur sector in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district as the Army foiled an infiltration bid during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
The bid was foiled hours after the Army thwarted a Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) attack and killed two militants in the neighbouring Uri sector.
The Army said the infiltration bid was foiled in Rampur sector between Uri and Gulmarg when soldiers noticed the movement of armed militants.
“Six terrorists were killed in the gunfight and a search operation is still in progress,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.
