Five militants were killed in two seperate encounters in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir in last 24 hours. Three militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in Hakripora Pulwama while as two militants were killed in an overnight encounter in Melhoora Shopian.
A senior police official from Pulwama said that acting on a specific input about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched in Hakripora area of Kakapora belt in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
He said that as joint team of forces including 50 RR, CRPF and Pulwama Police approached towards suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon forces which was retialated triggering an encounter.
During initial exchange of fire two militants were killed, he said, adding that third one was repeatedly asked to surrender, however, he refused and fired upon forces which was retialated and he too got killed.
He added that all three dead bodies along with weapon has been recovered and identification of slain is being ascertained. Regarding Shopian encounter a senior police officer said that two unidentified militants were killed in an overnight encounter at Melhoora Shopian.
He added that one militant was killed on Monday evening while another one was killed today. “Bodies of both militants along with ammunition was recovered.”
“On Monday evening operation was halted due to darkness, however, cordon was tightened to ensure that no trapped militant can flee and operation resumed on today morning,” he added.
He identified the slain militants as Umar Thoker from Shirpora Frisal Kulgam and Tanveer Ahmad Khanday from Yaripora Kulgam.
Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 55 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation based on a specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
