Srinagar, Oct 20: Five militants were killed in two separate gunfights in Shopian and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir, Police on Tuesday said.
A police official said that on Monday evening joint forces including Army’s 55RR, CRPF and Police launched a CASO in Melhora area of Zainapora belt in south Kashmir’s Shopian following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that the search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon the forces party.
“One militant was killed in the initial exchange of gunfire last evening, while another militant was killed on Tuesday morning,” he said.
One AK-47 rifle and a pistol and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.
A police spokesman said bodies of the both militants were retrieved from the site of encounter and were identified as Towseef Ahmad Khanday son of Abdul Salam Khanday, resident of Hangul-Buch Kulgam and Umar Thoker son of Gulzar Ahmad Thoker, resident of Shiganpora Kulgam both affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen.
He said that slain militants were involved in a series of attacks in Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir.
About another operation in Hakripora area of Kakapora belt in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said that three LeT militants who were involved in the attack on CRPF on Monday in which two troopers sustained injuries were killed.
Identities of the slain militants were being ascertained, when this report was last filed.
Earlier, Joint forces parties including Army’s 50RR, CRPF, and J&K police had launched searches following inputs about militant presence in the area.
“As forces zeroed towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter, which ended with killing of three LeT militants.” (KDC)
