Security forces shot dead five militants in a fierce gun battle in Bandipora and averted a major tragedy with the timely detection of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said on Friday.
The militants were killed in a day-long encounter with security forces at Gujar Pati area of Bandipora in North Kashmir yesterday, the sources said.
Two residential houses, where the ultras had taken shelter, were damaged during the gun battle, they said, adding the fight broke out early on Thursday when police assisted by Rashtriya Rifles launched a search and cordon operation following specific information about the presence of militants there.
While bodies of two militants were recovered from the spot last evening, three more charred bodies of the ultras were recovered from debris of the houses this afternoon, the sources said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately, but they are suspected to be foreigners, they said.
Another encounter between militants and security forces broke out at Panzgam village of Pulwama this afternoon, the sources said, adding further details are awaited as the gun battle was still going on.
{{/usCountry}}Another encounter between militants and security forces broke out at Panzgam village of Pulwama this afternoon, the sources said, adding further details are awaited as the gun battle was still going on.
{{/usCountry}}Police assisted by Rashtriya Rifles detected an IED planted by militants on the main road between village Wachi and Niyana in Pulwama district last evening, they said.
The IED was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.