Three unidentified militants were killed and three security personnel, including an Army Major, were injured in an encounter in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Friday.

“A firefight started after the evacuation of civilians from the cordoned off area in Pattan. Three terrorists were killed in the operation. One officer was also injured during the operation and is stable,” a Srinagar-based Army spokesperson said.

The injured officer is of the Major rank. Two personnel of the police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) were also injured during the encounter in Yadipora village of Baramulla’s Pattan area. The gunfight had erupted earlier on Friday morning when a search party of the security forces was fired upon by militants hiding in the area.

In south Kashmir, a gunfight between militants and security forces was reported in Pulwama district.

“The firing took place during a search operation in Babhoora village of Pulwama. The hiding militants fired indiscriminately. All entry and exit points of the area have been sealed,” an official said.

The police also busted a hideout of the Jaish-e-Muhammad in the Buchoo-Kamla forests of Tral area in Pulwama. “Incriminating materials, including IED (improvised explosive device) material, were recovered,” the police said.

Srinagar attack: 5 held

The police have arrested five people and seized four vehicles, including ambulances used by militants, to carry out an attack in the Pandach area near Srinagar on May 20, which left two Border Security Force jawans dead.

“During investigation, four vehicles, including two private ambulances, a bike and a Scooty, were seized. The ambulance was used to transport the militants from Bijbehara to Pandach, Srinagar, while the two-wheelers were used to carry out the attack and escape after looting weapons from the injured jawans,” the police said.

The police said all militants involved in the attack have been killed in different operations in the Valley.