Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Khudpora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said on Sunday.
One terrorist's body was recovered on Saturday evening while the other body was found on Sunday morning. The slain terrorists are locals from Shopian and have been identified as Mohd Irfan Bhat and Shahid Mir.
Police said while Bhat had joined militant ranks last year, Mir was part of an arms case from 2004. Bhat was associated with terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen since June 2017, while Mir was involved in various terror activities.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Khudpora area on Saturday evening following information about presence of the terrorists there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire towards the security forces, who retaliated. Two militants were killed in the encounter while two others managed to escape, he said.
"A couple of terrorists managed to escape from the site as blood trails have been seen there," he added.
Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter.
"Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the encounter site. Police have registered a case and started investigations," a police spokesperosn said.
Security personnel have also appealed to the locals to not venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. Locals have been urged to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all explosives materials, if any.
(With PTI inputs)