2 Hizb militants killed in Kulgam encounter
Gunfight after forces get input about terrorist presence
SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were on Saturday killed in an exchange of fire with security forces at Niapora Zadoora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district amid an escalation in violence in the region, police said.
The gunfight was triggered after an operation was launched following a specific input about the terrorist presence in the area.
As many as 16 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir since Sunday last. Unidentified assailants also shot dead a village council head and two civilians believed to be working for the security forces. As many as 90 militants have been killed in Kashmir since January, according to the Jammu and Kashmir police.
The two killed in Niapora Zadoora are believed to have been affiliated with the Hizbul Mujahideen group even as their identities were not immediately revealed.
Police said the militants were given opportunity to surrender during a search operation before the gunfight. However, the holed up terrorists fired and lobbed grenades on the joint search party and triggered the gunbattle. “On a specific input about the presence of terrorists in village Nipora Zadoora, Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by [Jammu & Kashmir] Police, 19 RR [Rashtriya Rifles] and 18 Bn [battalion] CRPF [Central Reserve Police Force] in the village,” the police said in a statement.
Police said the security forces conducted the operation professionally and there was no collateral damage. Two pistols and three hand grenades were also recovered from the gunbattle scene.
A group of terrorists escaped during a cordon and search operation in the neighbouring Tral area after a separate operation was launched on Saturday, people aware of the matter said without giving more information.