Hizbul militant shot dead in J&K

Army shot dead a self-styled sectional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit on Saturday, who had taken five members of a family hostage in Doda district.

In a bid to escape security forces, the militant Liaqat Ali Gujjar alias Junaid barged into the house of Noor Mohammed Bhat in Ziddan area of the district, 190 kms from here, late last night and took five members of his family hostage.

Security forces soon cordoned off the house and in the subsequent gun battle between the militants and troops, the ultra was killed and the five persons held hostage rescued, police said.

An AK rifle, one AK 56 rifle, three magazines, two grenades and an IED were recovered from him, they said.