Kashmir: 2 militants killed, army officer injured in Kupwara encounter

Two top Lashkar commanders were killed while one army major was injured on Monday in an encounter between militants and security forces in a remote Handwara village of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said.

Two top Lashkar commanders were killed while one army major was injured on Monday in an encounter between militants and security forces in a remote Handwara village of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said.

Handwara superintendent of police, Maqsood-uz-Zamaan, confirmed the death of the militants.

"The encounter is over and two top militants of LeT Abu Talha and Abu Huraira were killed,'' Zaman told Hindustan Times.

Zamaan said while Talha was the LeT's divisional commander of the area, Huraira was his close associate and deputy.

The encounter was launched jointly by the army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, according to the police.

A police spokesperson said that a cordon and search operation was launched at a house in Malikpora, under Vilgam police station, on a specific information regarding presence of militants in the house of one Habibullah Sheikh.

"The operation turned into an encounter after the joint operation party was fired upon,'' said the spokesperson.

The police have recovered two AK 47 assault rifles, grenades and many rounds of ammunition from the encounter site.