A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed on Monday (27 January) during an exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists at Arwani village in south Kashmir''s Kulgam district, officials said, reports Outlook.

According to reports, the security forces tried but were unsuccessful in making the local terrorist surrender.

An Army personnel has reportedly sustained injuries in the firing exchange, which ended with the killing of the militant. The body was retrieved from the site and the killed militant has been identified as Shahid Khar of Kulgam.

A joint team of police and Army reportedly launched an operation after receiving specific input about the presence of terrorists in the area. During the search operation, the terrorists fired upon the security forces, following which a gun battle started.

Khar was affiliated to proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, according to police records, and was wanted by the law for his involvement in terror crimes, including attacks on security establishments.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter and have been seized for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes, officials said.

With the killing of Khar, 16 terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Qari Yasir, have been killed in six encounters in the last 28 days. During the same period, nine terrorists, including Hizbul divisional commander Naveed Mushtaq, have been arrested in Kashmir in the first month of Vijay Kumar taking over as the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir.