Srinagar, Apr 24: Four militants and two government forces’ personnel were killed in a fierce encounter that broke out Tuesday in the forests of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, government forces launched an operation in the Laam forests of Tral area, a police official said.
He said a gun-battle broke out when the militants opened fire at the government forces.
In the initial exchange of fire, one soldier and a policeman sustained injuries. They were evacuated to hospitals here both succumbed to injuries, the official said.
The slain forces’ personnel were identified as Sepoy Ajay Kumar of 42 RR and Constable Mohammad Lateef Gujri of J&K Police. Two other soldiers injured in the gunfight have been hospitalized.
Four militants were also killed during the encounter that lasted many hours, the official said adding weapons and other warlike stores were recovered from the scene of the incident.
The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained, the official said adding at least two of them are believed to be foreigners.
Initially police had said that three militants were killed. “Two among the slain are foreigners while the third one is believed to be a local,” said a police official.
However, later in the evening, Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said that the fourth militant was also killed in the gunfight.
Taking to Twitter, Vaid said that the number of militants killed in the gunfight has mounted to four.
IGP Kashmir SP Pani said the slain militants seem to be associated with the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit.
“During the encounter, incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot. The search in the area is going on,” police spokesman said in a statement.
Meanwhile, paying tributes to the two government forces personnel who died in the encounter, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and also conveyed her sympathies to the personnel who were injured in the incident.
