Four Militants Killed In Kashmir Encounters; Shelling Along LoC Continues

Four militants were killed in two different encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Dairoo area of Shopian in south Kashmir in the morning following specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon security forces, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed, the official said, adding their identity and group affiliation is being ascertained.

Later in the day, a gunbattle erupted between security forces and the militants who had killed a special police officer and critically injured his colleague in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district early this week, officials said.

The two militants were later killed.

On Monday, the suspects attacked the SPOs with axes in Tander village and escaped into the jungle. The police had been on their trail since and located them on Friday. Additional security forces were rushed and a gun battle ensued, a police officer said, adding details would be made available later.

The official said the two are believed to have joined the terrorist ranks and carried out the attack to lay their hands on their weapons.

This was the first militant attack in Kishtwar district this year.

Kishtwar was rocked by a series of militants attacks in November 2018, when it saw its first attack in over a decade.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army on Friday continued shelling the forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in town sectors of Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, officials said.

This is 13th consecutive day of shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

On Thursday, Indian officials said, Pakistan targeted civilian areas and forwards posts along the LoC in three sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts.

(With agency inputs)