Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief Dr Saifullah was on Sunday killed during an encounter which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Srinagar outskirts.

Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police and CRPF in Rangreth area in the city outskirts.
However, they said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. “The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter,” they said, adding a militant was killed in the encounter while a suspect was arrested at the encounter site.
They said the slain militant has been reportedly identified as Saifullah, who became the chief of HM after Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter in May this year. “Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the encounter site.
They said the operation was going on when the reports last came in.
Meanwhile, On a specific input regarding presence of militant in Rangreth area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Srinagar Police and CRPF in the said area.
During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained he was given opportunity to surrender, however, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. Later on 53RR also joined in the operation.
In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed terrorist has been identified as Saif-Ul-Islam Mir @ Dr Saif @ Ghazi Haider resident of Malangpora, affiliated with proscribed terrorist outfit HM.
As per police records, the said militant was chief operational commander of proscribed terrorist outfit HM and was active since 2014. He was involved in many terror crimes and civilian atrocities besides was instrumental in recruiting innocent youth into terror folds. He was involved in killing of SgCT Khurshid Ahmad in Pulwama, killing of PSO of NC leader & SgCt Manzoor Ahmed in Kokernag, killing of a non local truck driver at Bijbehara, killing of Tanveer Ahmad Dar in Shopian. He was involved in attack on Sarpanch in Kokernag, grenade attacks on Police Post Kakapora & Police Post Lassipora.
Besides, he was also involved in many similar terror crimes regarding which dozens of cases stand registered against him in different Police Stations.
Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes.
IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar has appreciated Police and SFs for the big success in eliminating chief operational commander of proscribed terrorist outfit HM.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead body of the killed militant shall be sent to Baramulla for his burial & last rites after completion of medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed terrorist shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla.
In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.