Kashmir gunfight: Search operations called off

Security forces today called off search operations in the Thanna Mandi forests of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir after recovering the bodies of three militants killed in a shootout.

Security forces on Monday evening called off search operations in the Thanna Mandi forests of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir after recovering the bodies of three militants killed in a shootout.

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The security forces are also trying to track down another group of militants in the adjoining mountainous belt, despite rains hampering the operation, an official said.

"We have recovered the bodies of three militants," Ramesh Jalla, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, told reporters in Rajouri late on Monday evening.

Two of three militants have been identified.

"They are Abu Ali and Uzefa Kamar," the officer said.

Security forces also recovered three AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines of AK-47 rifles, one satellite phone, two grenades and six mobile phones from the slain militants.

The police are trying to find out to whom the SIM cards were issued.

The shootout in Thanna Mandi area, about 180 km north of Jammu, began on Saturday when an army team led by Major S K Mahapatra traced a group of militants in the forested area. In the ensuing gunfight, Mahapatra was injured and a soldier was killed on Sunday.

The operations were taking place close to the area where terrorists fired at a convoy of the army and a civilian bus on Wednesday. Two passengers were killed and 17 injured in the attack.