Two militants killed in ongoing Anantnag encounter

Two militants were killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and ultras at Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Friday.

A civilian protester was also injured during clashes near the gunbattle site, reports said. The encounter broke out after a joint team of army’s Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) at remote Gadole hamlet of Vailoo area in Kokernag, 75 kms from here, during wee hours of Friday.

As the search party was moving on in the cordoned area, the hiding militants fired upon them, reports said and added in the retaliatory action, two militants were killed.

The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants was not known immediately. Earlier state police chief Shesh Pal Vaid tweeted: “Encounter was going on in kukernag area of Anantnag, reportedly presence of 2/3 terrorists, firing stopped, search is on (sic).”

Reports said a civilian was injured during clashes with the forces near the encounter site. The injured, identified as Yawar Ahmad, was brought to district hospital Anantnag for treatment. A doctor treating him said Ahmad has suffered a bullet injury in the back of his head.

Authorities snapped Internet service in parts of Anantnag district in the wake of the gunfight.

Earlier on Thursday, militants barged into the residence of a forest department official in Zandpal area at Kunzer in Tangmarg, Baramulla and shot him dead.

On Wednesday, militants killed three policemen, including an officer, and a BJP worker in four separate attacks in south Kashmir areas.