Encounter breaks out in J-K's Pulwama area, 2 terrorists killed; search operations underway

Police said security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a cordon and search operation after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, has been removed from all areas of Meghalaya from March 31. Photo: PTI

Pulwama: An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday morning.  The exchange of fire took place at Gulshan pora village of Tral area where two to three terrorists are believed to be holed up. As per latest reports coming, two terrorists had been gunned down by the security forces. Police said that troops belonging to Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit and Specials Operation Group (SOG) cordoned off the area and launched a cordon and search operation  after receiving information about the presence of militants there. "As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at the surrounding security forces, triggering an encounter which is underway," a police officer said. There have been no reports of any casualty yet. Two days ago, a Special Police Officer (SPO) of J&K Police was killed by suspected militants in the district. The policeman belonged to a village in which another encounter had taken place a few days ago and where four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants were killed by security forces. According to a police spokesperson, militants had barged into the house of Sameer Ahmad Mir at Hanjan-Payeen in Pulwama and “fired upon him, injuring him critically.”