Two militants killed in gunfight in Pulwama

TIPOFF Security forces launched a search operation based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Saturday gunned down two Hizbul Mujahideen militants hiding in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

A police spokesperson said the army and a special operation group of the police launched a cordon and search operation in Tikken village based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

A police spokesperson said as the search operation was on, the militants fired on the search party which led to an encounter.

“The two bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,’’ the spokesperson said.

The slain militants were identified as Liyaqat Munir Wani, a resident of the Below Dargund area in Pulwama, and Wajid Ul Islam, a resident of the Babhar area in the district, he said.

“They were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen,” the spokesperson added.

He said both the militants

were “involved in a series of terror attacks on security establishments and many other atrocities against civilians in the area”.

“Arms and ammunition including AK 47 and INSAS rifle and other incriminating materials were recovered from the encounter site.

The INSAS rifle seized from the encounter site was the same rifle which these terrorists had snatched from police officials in Murran, in the district, earlier,” the spokesperson said.

SHUTDOWN , INTERNET SERVICES SUSPENDED

A shutdown was observed in Pulwama town after the encounter and the authorities suspended internet mobile services in the area.

Multiple rounds of funeral were also held for militants in their native places.

On Friday, a Pakistani Jaishe-Mohammad militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Pulwama district after an encounter broke out at Dar-Ganiegund village.