Srinagar, May 18: Security forces gunned down three terrorists affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday. One of the slain terrorists, identified as Showkat Ahmad Dar, was part of a group that abducted and killed rifleman Aurangzeb in June last year. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Dar was also involved in the planning and execution of several other attacks.

"Dar was part of a group involved in the killing of Army jawan Aurangzeb in 2018. He was also involved in the killing of policeman Aqib Ahmad Wagay last year. Several terror crime cases were registered against him," a police spokesperson told The Indian Express. Rifleman Aurangzeb was abducted and brutally killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir on June 15. His death had triggered outrage across the country. Shopian Encounter: Army Jawan Injured in Jammu and Kashmir Gunfight Dies in Hospital.

Aurangzeb was on way to join his family on the occasion of Eid when the militants intercepted the private vehicle in which the soldier was travelling to Shopian town, from where he would take another vehicle for Poonch. A video released by abductors that abducted Aurangzeb showed him bravely acknowledging that he was a soldier of the Indian Army and had participated in anti-militancy operations in south Kashmir.

The other two terrorists killed in the Pulwama encounter were identified as Irfan Ahmad and Muzaffar Ahmed. While Showkat was from the Punzgam and both he and Muzaffar belonged to Pulwama district, Irfan Ahmad belonged to Sopore area of Baramulla district. The gun-battle between terrorists and security forces broke out last night in Punzgam village of Pulwama.

Another encounter was fought in Hathlangoo village of Baramulla after a hiding militant fired at a cordon and search party. One terrorist was killed in the gun-fight. Following the encounter, mobile Internet services in Sopore and Awantipora area.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2019 04:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).