Security forces kill two Hizbul militants in encounter in Kashmir’s Tral

The encounter began Monday evening when security forces launched a search operation.

Security forces killed two militants in an encounter in Tral in Kashmir’s Pulwama district Tuesday morning, an army spokesperson said.

The house in Tral from which the militants had opened fire on security forces. (ANI)

The encounter had begun Monday evening when security forces launched a search operation in the area in the evening following a tip off about the militants. Tral is 46 km southeast of Srinagar.

A police spokesperson said the two militants were identified as Adfar Fayaz Parray son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray and Irfan Ahmad Rather, both residents of Tral.

“The killed terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).They were involved in conspiring and executing several terrorist attacks and were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” the police said in a statement.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the town.

Pulwama district has been on high alert since a suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF troopers on February 14 when he rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus in a troop convoy.

Last week, security forces fought a three-day gun battle with two terrorists in Handwara in north Kashmir before eliminating them Sunday noon. Three CRPF men, two Jammu and Kashmir policemen and a civilian were also killed in the gun battles.