Awantipora: Three local militants were killed in an encounter that raged between government forces and militants in Mandoora village of Tral belt in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.
A senior police officer told KNO that three militants were killed in an operation that started in the afternoon. Pertinently, it was this year’s first encounter.
Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 42 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that three militants were locals of which one was active since August 2020 and two others had joined militancy this year. “All three were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen,” he said, the trio turned down the repeated surrender offers.
Police said that they were identified as Waris from Naibugh, Tral, Arif Ahmed Sheikh from Monhama, and Ehtisham Misger from Check Noorpora. He said that one AK-47, two pistols and four grenades were recovered from the slain militants. (KNO)
