2 terrorists killed in Shopian shootout

A top Hizbul Mujaheedin commander and a foreign terrorist were killed in a fierce gunfight near Srinagar on Friday evening. A senior police officer said that troops of 44 Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group (SOG) of the state police jointly surrounded a forest area near Tharina village in south Kashmir'a Shopian district, 70 kms from Srinagar.

"The two terrorists were challenged to surrender, but instead they started firing at the security forces leading to a gunfight which ended on Friday evening after both terrorists were killed," the officer said. The slain terrorists have been identified as Fayaz Peer, divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujaheedin for south Kashmir and the foreign terrorist has been identified as Usman. "Peer was involved in several militancy related incidents in the area and was on the top of the wanted militants in south Kashmir," he added.

Meanwhile a powerful hand grenade explosion rocked north Kashmir Sopore town this evening, police said.