Two militants were on Tuesday killed in an encounter with security forces in forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.
The two unidentified militants were encircled during a combing operation of Nilphan and Andoo (Kachwan) forest area of Kokernag, Anantnag. “The hiding militants fired. In retaliation, both were killed. The bodies were retrieved and the identities and affiliation is being ascertained,” said the police spokesman.
According to police, incriminating material, including arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said around 250 militants were still active, despite 91 militants killed so far this year.
In stepped up operation against militants this year, security forces killed 91 militants this year so far. Sixty one security personnel and 11 civilians also lost their lives in militancy-related cases for the same period, according to officials. “There are around 275 militants active in the Valley. Around 100 to 120 are foreigners,” said DGP Singh in Poonch in the Pir Panjal valley.
Mr. Singh termed the killing al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghatwat-ul-Hind chief Zakir Ahmad Bhat alias Musa as the ‘end of the new idea’ of militancy in Kashmir.
“Musa started a new idea of militancy in Kashmir but his idea came to an end with his killing,” said the DGP. Meanwhile, the Army said Pakistan resorted to a ceasefire violation in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri on Tuesday around 4 p.m. “Pakistan used small arms and followed it with shelling. The Army is retaliating befittingly,” said the Army spokesman. Source The Hindu
