A Hizbul Mujahideen militant’s brother, who officials said was a militant associate, was killed in an encounter in Bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir on Friday. Two security personnel were injured in the encounter, officials said. The deceased was identified as Altaf Lali, brother of jailed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Talib Lali. As the news of his death spread, protests erupted in Bandipora’s Ajas with his family alleging that the encounter was fake. They alleged that he had been picked up by police from his home two days ago. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Earlier, security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Kulnar Bazipora in Bandipora district following information about the presence of terrorists in the area, the officials said. They said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire. Police sources said Lali was a “militant associate” and was killed in a gunfight. Talib Lali, arrested in 2023, was the longest surviving militant in Kashmir and was the top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen.
