Fourth militant gunned down in Poonch; encounter underway

Security forces gunned down one more militant in Poonch district, taking the total number of ultras killed in the operation, which is still underway, to four.

"One more militant has been eliminated. With this, the number of total militants killed in the encounter since yesterday has gone up to four", a Defence spokesman said today.

Three militants and a policeman were yesterday killed and six others, including a police officer, were injured in twin encounters between security forces and four terrorists in Poonch town.The cop was cremated today in Poonch town.

IG Johny Willian, who is in-charge of Rajouri-Poonch range, said one more body of a militant has been recovered from a house where one ultra was killed yesterday.

Firing is going on in the under-construction Mini Secretariat and the operation is on, he said.

Security forces were engaged in day-long twin encounters with four terrorists holed up at two places near the under-construction Mini Secretariat in Poonch town since yesterday morning.

The fire fight broke out near the Mini Secretariat building close to Army's 93 Brigade headquarters, Poonch district and a house in Allahpir Mohalla in the town around 7.30 AM yesterday.    

"Four militants are involved in the two encounters at two different locations", Director General of Police Rajendra Kumar had said.

A civilian couple were safely evacuated from the house in which militants had taken shelter last evening, police said. The authorities had used drones to track down militants in the Mini Secretariat complex and other places.