3 Hizbul militants killed in south Kashmir encounter: Army

Security forces killed three militants in an encounter in Dadsara village in the Tral area of south Kashmir on Thursday.

Security forces killed three militants in an encounter in Dadsara village in the Tral area of south Kashmir on Thursday.

The sole militant caught alive after a 2015 terrorist attack on a BSF convoy travelling on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur. (Agencies)

All the militants were local residents and belonged to the banned organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, army said.

“Among the slain militants is Ashiq Hussain Bhat of Charsoo village who was wanted in connection with providing shelter to militants involved in Udhampur attack,’’ said an army official.

The other two were identified as Mohd Issaq Parray and Asif Ahmad Mir.

Two BSF soldiers were killed and 10 others were injured when militants attacked a Border Security Force convoy in Udhampur in August 2015. One militant was caught alive while the other one was killed. Both of them were Pakistani nationals.

Security forces cordoned the village off on Wednesday night after inputs that two or three militants were hiding in the area, triggering protests by residents that continued into Thursday.