Hizbul Mujahideen commander Manan Bashir Wani. (File Photo)
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thurdsday described the killing of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander as a 'loss'. Security forces gunned down two top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including a former Ph.D scholar-turned-terrorist Manan Bashir Wani, Handwara district of north Kashmir.
Describing the situation in the Valley as grave, Mehbooba Mufti urged political parties to find a solution to end the bloodshed. She iterated the need of dialogue with Pakistan.
"Today a PhD scholar chose death over life & was killed in an encounter. His death is entirely our loss as we are losing young educated boys everyday," Mehbooba said.
"It is high time that all the political parties in the country realise the gravity of this situation and try to facilitate a solution through dialogue with all the stake holders including Pakistan to end this bloodshed," she added.
Giving details emerging from the encounter site, which ended, police and other security forces were fired upon by holed up militants resulting in exchange of fire which continued till 11 am.
Police was also making repeated announcements on public address system appealing to the militants to surrender, the officials said.
There was a lull in firing at around 9 am, prompting the police to initiate search operation at the encounter site, but the same had to be suspended after firing resumed after 15 minutes, the officials said.
Wani, who was enrolled as a PhD scholar with the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), joined militant ranks in January this year.
WATCH: Top Hizbul commander gunned down in Handwara
