Srinagar: Two militants, later identified with militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in a gunfight with armed forces in Tikken area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, police said.
A spokesman said that the state police and the forces launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Tikken area based on “credible” inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
As the search operation was going on, he said, the hiding militants fired on the search party. “The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” he said.
In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed whose bodies were retrieved from the site of the gunfight, he said.
The slain were identified as Liyaqat Wani of Below and Wajid ul Islam of Babhara village of Pulwama.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter,” said the spokesman.
“Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” the spokesman urged.
Meanwhile, authorities have suspended Internet services in Pulwama district. The district is observing a shutdown to mourn the killings of the militants.
