New Delhi: An encounter broke out in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir between Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants and Kashmir police which left two militants dead on Saturday, the Kashmir police said.
According to a report by news agency PTI, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Mirhama area of Kulgam in South Kashmir following the input of militants being present in the area.
The search operation turned into an encounter when the militants opened fire at the security forces. During the encounter, two militants were killed, an official told PTI.
One of the militants was identified as a Pakistani national affiliated with JeM, said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.
"One #Pakistani #terrorist of proscribed #terror outfit JeM killed. #Operation in progress," Kumar wrote on Twitter.
While talking to news agency ANI, Kumar added that there is information of two more militants being in hiding in the area. However, the security forces have stopped evacuating the people from the area for now and they will begin again tomorrow morning.
“Together with security forces, we cordoned off the place. Later the encounter was started in which 2 terrorists were killed. There is news of 2 terrorists hiding. Op was stopped to evacuate common people in the area. Will start operation again tomorrow,” Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
The encounter comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to the valley post the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. He will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 20,000 crores in the valley tomorrow.
“Tomorrow, 24th April, we will mark the National Panchayati Raj Day. On this important occasion, I will be in Jammu and Kashmir, and from there will address Gram Sabhas across India. Will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development works worth over Rs. 20,000 crore,” Modi wrote on his Twitter ahead of the visit.