Two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Anantnag district, the police said on Thursday.

The security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Kandipora in the Bijbehara area of the district on Wednesday following information about presence of militants there, a police official said.

“During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” the official said.

Due to darkness, the operation was suspended on Wednesday evening but the cordon remained intact throughout night, he said.

“Today in the morning, repeated announcements were again made to hiding terrorists to surrender, but the terrorists fired at the joint search party and the fire was retaliated resulting in the elimination of two hiding terrorists,” he added.

The slain militants have been identified as Adil Ahmad Bhat and Zahid Ahmad Rather. They were affiliated with the proscribed outfit JeM.

As per police records, the official said both the militants were involved in several terror cases, including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.

“Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter,” he added. — PTI

Courtesy: Daily Tribune : 12th March 2021