Two militants were gunned down by security personnel in the state’s Kulgam district. (Representational image)
Two militants were gunned down by security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district early Thursday morning, police confirmed. “Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Gopalpora area of Kulgam this morning,” news agency PTI quoted a police official as saying. One of the slain militants had been party to an ambush on a bank’s cash van on May 1 this year. The attack had claimed the lives of five police officials and two bank security guards.
The operation was a joint effort by the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state Police. “The encounter lasted half an hour. Forces eliminated two Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists who were involved in many cases,” Shridhar Patil, SSP, Kulgam district told news agency ANI.
The Northern Command of the Indian Army said on Twitter that weapons have been recovered from the two militants who were killed in the Kulgam district earlier on Thursday. One of the weapons recovered had been ransacked from a Police port in October last year, ANI said.
Meanwhile, another encounter is underway in south Kashmir’s Shopian district where two to three militants are believed to be holed in Zaipora Village. Security forces have isolated the area. A search operation was instigated last night following intel received by the Army, PTI said.
The encounter comes days after Lashkar-e-Taiba chief commander Abu Dujana, along with one other militant, Arif Bhat, was killed in an encounter with forces in the early hours of Tuesday. His death was considered a major victory by security forces as he was one of the most popular commanders and recruiters in south Kashmir.
This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
Read | Who was Abu Dujana? Click here
(With inputs from agencies)
