*Hizb District Commander Killed In Kulgam: Police* Kulgam, Nov 19 (GNS): District Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was killed in a gunfight with joint team of police, army and CRPF in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Saturday. A police spokesman said that a cordon-and-search-operation was launched by Police, army’s 9RR and 18 battalion CRPF based on credible input about the presence of militants Ashmuji area of the district at about 1300 hours. “During the search operation, after the presence of (militant) was ascertained, efforts were made to evacuate the civilians and message was passed to hiding (militant) to surrender,” the spokesman said in a statement to GNS, adding, “he denied and started firing indiscriminately upon the security forces, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.”In the ensuing encounter, he said, one militant namely Mudasir Ahmad Wagay Son of Mohammad Jamal Wagay of Malwan, Devsar was killed. “He was (A+) categorized (militant) and was presently District Commander of HM.” The spokesman said that Mudasir was active from 2018. “Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site.” He said a case (FIR 242/2021) under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Kulgam and investigation has been initiated.“People are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone as such area can prove dangerous and to cooperate with Police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared.” (GNS)