Six militants, including two holed up inside a mosque, were killed in two separate operations in south Kashmir on Friday, taking the toll in the twin encounters to eight in the past 36 hours.

“There was no use of firing or improvised explosive devices in the Pampore encounter. Security forces used tear smoke shells only and maintained sanctity of the mosque. Both the militants hiding inside the mosque were neutralised,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said.

A gunfight erupted in Pampore’s Meej area on Thursday morning during a cordon-and-search operation, following a tip-off. While one militant was killed on Thursday morning, two took shelter inside a nearby mosque. The security forces continued with the operation throughout the day and the night.

In a separate operation, which was carried out jointly by the Army, the police and the CRPF on Thursday afternoon, four militants were killed in Shopian’s Bandpawa. Earlier, one militant was killed in this encounter.

“The bodies of five slain militants have been retrieved and their identity and affiliation is being ascertained,” a police official said.

Preliminary reports suggested that the slain militants are believed to be affiliated to the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Jaish-e-Muhammad. However, there is no official confirmation yet.

At least 102 militants, including top commanders, were killed in Kashmir this year. Of them, 72 militants were killed during the coronavirus pandemic in Kashmir since March 20. Around 27 militants were killed in the operations of the security forces in south Kashmir this month, including 22 militants in Shopian district.

Mr. Kumar congratulated the ‘Team Kashmir’, comprising the joint team of the Army, the police and the CRPF, for ‘completing a century’ on the front of anti-terrorist operations.